The Impact of Intoxicants Prohibition Decree of Shah Tahmasb I on Opium Consumption in the First Period of the Safavid Reign (907-996 AH)

Opium is a narcotic substance that has been used throughout history as a drug. In case of continuous use, habituation to humans is inevitable. Opium was used mostly for medical purposes in pre-Safavid Iran. In the ninth century AH and head of the Safavid were few People from upper strata of society or the people were dependent on them opiate drug addicts. Since the start of the fifth decade of the tenth century AH, there was a perceptible change in the consumption of opium in Iranian society. The purpose of this article is that by using historical descriptive and analytic method, clears this change by the end of the first period of the Safavid and its social consequences. Survey of data obtained from various sources shows that Intoxicant prohibition decree of Shah Tahmasb, gradually increased opium addiction and this rise caused new social consequences and a basis for addictions of people in later periods; in other words as a substitute to opiate intoxication banned in Shah Tahmasb’s decree, has played a greater role-In the field of consumables- in changing Iranian lifestyles.