Addiction and Drug Use in the Medieval Centuries of the Iranian History

Addiction to narcotic drugs has been (and still is) one of the concerns of the Iranian society throughout the history. The emergence of some types of addictive drugs dates back to the medieval history. The present study, conducted through descriptive and analytic method, seeks to probe into the history and status of drug use in the medieval centuries of Iran. The findings suggest that various types of drugs, chiefly opium and hashish, were common in that period of time, which were being used for medical, leisure, recreational, and sedative purposes as well as for political-avenging aims. Public attitudes towards drugs were unpleasant, because of their side effects and adverse outcomes in personal and social affairs and reduction in social status. Moreover, the government's policy considering the issue of addictionis unclear due to reasons like political-military involvements or personal interests in drugs. We are informed of drug ban only in one case of Sarbedaran and temporary bans on drug use.