1. Training for members: Since October 1999 courses have been arranged to teach members about drug addiction and give them organizing skills for contribution to the Society’s cause.
2. Educational workshops for executive secretaries of the Society aiming at training human resources in the field of prevention of drug addiction at various social levels have been held every 6 months since 18 May 2000 in various provinces such as Tehran, Khorasan, Sistan and Baluchistan, etc.
3. Educational courses for psychology teachers in 20 school districts of Tehran as well as educational workshops for students in Isfahan Technical University, Tehran Medical Sciences University, Free University of Roudehen, Alzahra University and Science and Technology University have been held in addition to miscellaneous sessions to offer education and information to groups of staff of Imam Khomeini Relief Committee and Donya Children’s Research Institute.
4. In order to increase the knowledge of its staff the Society has participated in the following educational and research programs and has received certificates:
   • prevention workshops organized by the National Welfare Organization
   • policy making and desirable administration of NGOs workshops
   • the UN-NGOs Cooperation Workshop
   • “Enablement of Civil Society Organization” workshop
5. In 1999 Aftab Society received a license to publish a journal named Aftab Courier but so far publication of only three issues has become possible. In order to resume the publication of the journal and improve its educational and informational contents the Society is presently trying to engage skilled and efficient contributors and stable financial resources for publication of the journal.
6. A memorandum of understanding for cooperation has been signed with the Ministry of Education.
7. A memorandum of understanding for cooperation has been signed with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.
8. A memorandum of understanding for cooperation has been signed with the Ministry of Labor.
9. The Society has cooperated in production of documentaries and films for the cinema.

Research and Academic Papers, Books, Films and Other Activities of the Society

- Drugs, Drug Addiction and Laws on Prohibition of Drug Addiction (book to be published)
- Group Social Work (book detailing the activities of group work of Narcotics Anonymous)
- research report based on a survey of drug addiction among 800 drug addicts nationwide and among young people
- A Look on Depths of Prostitution (book on social deviations of women and their drug addiction, to be published)
- Drug Addiction Culture (book in the process of preparation on the basis of a survey of literary texts and poetry, drug addiction subculture and the jargon of drug addicts)
- research on the chain of social harm connected to drug addiction (still continuing)
- preparation of educational pamphlets and bulletins
- making documentaries and educational films
- requesting the emulations of high religious authorities (sources of emulation) on the subject of religious ban on drug use
- holding various seminars on prevention and treatment of drug addiction
- call for papers on demand reduction
- holding essay-writing, painting and graphics competition with subjects related to drug addiction
- holding football, hiking and climbing and other sports gatherings

Prevention Activities

The activities carried out by the Society to prevent drug addiction include:

1. Informing and educating families through:

a. holding gatherings for families in which one or more members are in danger of drug addiction and giving them information by specialists in prevention of drug addiction, psychology, social work and educational sciences.
b. distribution of pamphlets to families and informing them of ways to teach their family members about dangers of social harm including drug addiction.
c. informing families and the society through press and media, explaining the harms of drug use and the destructive results of the drug culture.

2. Informing and educating teachers and counselors of middle and high schools and also giving out information to parents and school authorities through courses, reports and research papers, academic discussions and exchange of ideas.
3. Using TV programs during hours with most spectators to offer information and education.
4. Informing various social groups through research reports and case histories in drug treatment and other academic papers.
5. Exchanging experiences and achievements in treating drug addiction with other concerned organizations as well as increasing the Society’s own academic and practical capabilities.
6. Expanding Aftab Society’s branches in various cities and helping them to achieve feasible goals and transferring the positive experiences of the central body of the Society to them (At present there are 13 branches nationwide but there is a lack of resources and expertise. It is hoped to upgrade these activities in the future through plans made for the future).
7. Establishing relations with NGOs in other countries in order to attract their financial and intellectual contributions, finding access to information and results of researches carried out in other countries on various aspects of drug addiction and its treatment, and offering our own experiences and methods to activists in other countries.
8. Preparation of bulletins, pamphlets, books and academic papers.
9. Establishing a data base and a web site (www.aftabsociety.org) to optimize volunteers requirements for information on the Society and its activities and aims.

Treatment

In order to offer drug addiction treatment the Society took the following steps from the time of its establishment:

1- Physicians and specialists in drug addiction treatment were identified at a national level and consultation meetings were held with them.
2- A scientific secretariat in treatment was formed for medical staff and as its first move the secretariat organized the first scientific-strategic seminar on treatment of drug addiction on 29 June 1999. The seminar, attended by more than 300 physicians, specialists, officials and parliament representatives, discussed clinical and non-clinical aspects of drug addiction as an illness. The final statement made by the seminar called for comprehensive action by all relevant government bodies to prepare the grounds for qualitative improvement of drug treatment facilities in the country and expansion of their treatment capacity.
3- Efforts were made to have a by-law ratified by the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education for establishment of drug addiction treatment clinics by the private sector.
4- Treatment counseling centers were established for both male and female drug addicted patients in Tehran province and also in the city of Rebat Karim and in Khavaran Cultural Center (both very deprived areas) that offered free consultation.
5- A permission to set up an outpatient treatment and rehabilitation center was acquired in March 2002.
6- A permission to set up a treatment and rehabilitation center able to receive 30 drug addicted inpatients was acquired in July 2003.
7- Planning for procedures of admission of patients (outpatients, inpatients and for rapid detoxification) from the time of admission to the time of their release as well as continuation of patients’ group activities after the termination of treatment were made.
8- Planning was made for the operation of clinics that offer individual and family counselling, group therapy, and psychological and psychoanalytical therapy.

Treatment of Drug dependency in Aftab Society’s Clinic

The clinic, admitting both in and outpatients, is now operating with the help of psychotherapists, psychologists, general practitioners, social workers and other professionals. It is offering its services to many patients. Treatment of dependency is offered in the following three forms:

1. Outpatient treatment:

The treatment of the patient is carried out with the help and cooperation of the family and under the supervision of professionals. The procedure includes medical examination, interview and counseling and finally detoxification by physicians. Further individual and family counseling as well as opportunities of group counseling are offered for a period of 6 weeks and after that the patient has a choice of continuation of counselling which can last up to 6 months.

2. Inpatient Treatment:

The patient is detoxified in the clinic for 6 to 10 days under professional supervision of medical staff and psychotherapists. He is then released from the clinic but continues to receive medical care, counselling and aftercare programs.

3. Rapid Detoxification Method

This very new method of treatment includes detoxification in shortest possible time, usually from one to three days, after which the patient’s physical dependence is ended and he is released from the clinic. Aftercare and follow up programs are then offered as usual.

Other Activities and Aftercare

1. Patients treated for their physical dependence on drugs are referred to the psychotherapy and group therapy department of the clinic. The main aims of this are to give them an opportunity to take part in group discussion sessions and help and encourage each other to continue keeping away from drug use, understand and cooperate, rebuild their character and accept responsibility.
2. Scheduled research on aftercare in drug addiction treatment, finding ways to support the families of the patients who have stopped using drugs, information for the ex addict, etc. are conducted by the Society.
3. Families and children that have been hurt due to the addiction of their breadwinners due to their death, divorce, losing homes, etc. are given support and referred to related organizations such as Imam Khomeini Relief Committee and the National Welfare Organization.
4. Help is offered to ex addicts to find employment or return to jobs that they lost due to their addiction.
5. Documented reports are made on the nature of drug addiction and the harms of substance abuse for related authorities.

Social Affairs Deputy of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Visits Aftab Society

In February 2004 Mrs. Karrubi, the Social Affairs Deputy of the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry visited the Society. During the visit Mr. Parviz Maleki, the Society’s Secretary General, presented a report on the aims and tasks of the Society after which the director of the Society’s clinic described the various activities and drug addiction treatment methods used and the facilities that the Society presently runs. Cooperation between the Society and the Ministry was discussed during the visit and information and statistics on the increasing number of drug users was offered to Mrs. Karrubi. She then visited the various facilities of the clinic.

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