The increase in the use of heroin is causing particular concern

The head of the state welfare organisation, Dr Gholam-Reza Ansari, told a press conference that Iran had six million drug users, almost 10% of the country's population.

He expressed particular concern about a sharp rise in the number of drug addicts among women and young people, and the increased use of heroin and other hard drugs.

This is grim news for the Iranian authorities, as it shows that two decades of merciless struggle under one of the toughest anti-drug regime in the world has failed.

In Iran possession of more than 30g of heroin is punishable by the death penalty.

Addicts

Dr Ansari said that there are now 1,200,000 serious addicts in Iran.

He added that the number of drugs users was rising annually by the staggering figure of 600,000, with three times more women than men among new drugs users.

The authorities are also concerned about the rise of drug use among young Iranians -who make up about two-thirds of the country's 65 million population.

Drug addiction is becoming the number one social problem for the Islamic government.

More than 70% of Iran's prison population is behind bars for drug-related offences.

Tehran alone is estimated to consume five tonnes of opium every single day.

Cheap supply

Dr Ansari gave no particular reason for the rising drug use.

But some analysts blame a variety of social and cultural restrictions, including the Islamic ban on alcohol.

Others suggest that because Iran lies on the main drugs transit route from Afghanistan to Europe, there is always a cheap supply available.

Some anti-narcotics officials have also complained that religious leaders are not prepared to take the same tough line against drugs as they do towards alcohol.

Experts have urged the authorities to overhaul their anti-drugs policies and take a more educational approach.