Visit of Ambassador of Australia to the Iranian National Center on Addiction Studies (INCAS)

H.E. Ambassador of Australia Ms. Lyndall Sachs met with the Head of Iranian National Center on Addiction Studies (INCAS).

The meeting was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iran and was attended by the Director General of International Relations Office of the Drug Control Headquarters, Mr. Amir Abbas Lotfi.

Dr. Afarin Rahimi Movaghar, Head of INCAS, provided a comprehensive presentation on the structure of the centre as well as its activities in the area of drug abuse treatment, epidemiology and toxicology, gender-related issues and training. Experts from INCAS gave overviews of their respective areas of work and achievements together with future target goals of the various departments of the centre. In addition, successful collaboration of the INCAS with the academic and scientific community in Australia on various studies and researches were presented.  The presentation included capacities of the centre as the “Regional Capacity Building and Research Centre” and exchange of expertise with regional countries in the area of drug treatment.

H.E. Ambassador of Australia, Ms. Lyndall Sachs. and Dr. Rahimi Movaghar exchanged views on the avenues of future cooperation. A dynamic exchange ensued on the impact of COVID-19 on the aspects of drug use trend. The meeting provided a rich platform to discuss future possible collaborations and technical assistance among the scientific and research centers in Australia and the INCAS in various drug related issues.

INCAS has been designated as the “Regional Capacity Building and Research Centre”, as an outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Drug Control Headquarters of Iran on 14 October 2019. Under this agreement, the center will promote evidence-based treatment of drug use disorders and improve public health and public safety and shall ensure delivering training and promoting research in the region in close partnership with other similar drug treatment and addiction research institutions in the country.

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For further information please contact:

Gelareh Mostashari (Ms.)

Senior Expert, Drug Demand Reduction

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Islamic Republic of Iran

Email: gelareh.mostashari@un.org