An estimated 20% of Bam's residents over 15 were opium addicts.

[barbaraann]

My husband found this buried in the story about the 97-year old woman. I had no idea. This is about the same percentage of Americans who are alcoholics and I suppose the drug of choice is opium because alcohol is unavailable. It seems that humans, regardless of nation or religion, have much in common. I wonder if some international humanitarian aid is going toward drugs and syringes.

...
"Farojpour said that among the many things disrupted by the quake was the supply of opium to the city's addicts. Before the temblor, an estimated 20 percent of people over the age of 15 in a population of 80,000 were believed to be addicted.

Methadone, codeine and sterile syringes were being given to drug addicts, Farojpour said."
...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20040103/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_earthquake_185