In September, a permit was issued for the establishment of Iran's very first alcohol rehabilitation center in Tehran.

Farid Barati, director of prevention services at Iran’s State Welfare Organization, introduced it as a “pilot permit” and added that it was temporary. But an argument over which organization is to hold the permit has obstructed the center’s kickoff. The conflict arose between two governmental organizations: the State Welfare Organization and Ministry of Health.

Having overcome the major obstacle of establishing a center with a focus on alcohol addiction is an important step. After many years, the silence on what was commonly known by many was broken by none other than the government itself. According to Barati, the issue is grave enough for the government to break its silence.

The critical prerequisite of establishing an alcohol rehabilitation center was in seeking the clerics' blessing. While alcohol consumption is forbidden in Islam, there apparently is no fatwa regarding treatment for alcohol addiction. Iranian government officials were prompted to spring into action to get a religious permission for such treatment. The administration is now approaching the matter from a technical aspect, saying that “addiction is an illness, not a felony.”