Beating Drug Addiction in Tehran: A Women's Clinic

by Kate Dolan

Dr Dolan's book details the intimate lives of four Iranian women, their struggle with drugs and the daily grind they faced in their personal lives.




Surprisingly, Iran responded well to its AIDS crisis but forgot to include female drug users. While Dr Dolan delivered training to Iranian prison doctors, she met women who were addicted to drugs and were desperately in need of treatment. With her health professional colleagues in Iran, she set out to establish the first drug treatment clinic for women. She was granted access to areas and people not normally afforded to outsiders.




One of the most interesting aspect of the clinic was the safe room that allowed women to remove their hejabs, smoke cigarettes and reveal their life stories. Working at the clinic challenged assumptions Dr Dolan had of Iran and its people. She came away with insights that are rare even in the world of international development.




This book covers several years of Dr Dolan's work and research.

140 pages, Paperback

Published March 22, 2021

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling and important account of drug addiction in Tehran and of especial interest to anyone working in the field. It’s also a glimpse into a world I never knew existed and thus also of great interest to anyone keen to learn about life in other parts of the world. Australian Dr Kate Dolan initially went to Iran to train Iranian prison doctors but realised there was a real problem with a lack of support for women drug addicts, and went on to establish the country’s first drug treatment clinic just for women. It’s an important book and covers many issues – drug treatment, the position of women, international aid, daily life, medical care and the prison system. So much to learn, take away and reflect on. Well worth reading.

[Alexander Soderholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captures the incredible work conducted by Kate Dolan in Iran, one of the most challenging places for foreign researchers. The book is extremely well-written and immerses you into places and issues that many Tehran natives have not seen, experienced or dared to talk about. It is a refreshing and balanced piece that captures the complexity of drugs and drug policy in Iran, something which very few have been able to do. Coupled with Professor Dolan's unique access, this book is a must-read for anyone trying to understand politics, society and public health in contemporary Iran.

[Michelle McGrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Dolan’s book details the intimate lives of four Iranian women, their struggle with drugs and the daily hardships they face in their personal lives. It affords the reader the opportunity to accompany the epidemiologist on one of her trips to Iran for an insider’s experience.

𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔

In 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒓𝒖𝒈 𝑨𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏, Dr Kate Dolan chronicles her unflagging efforts to give Iranian women experiencing the darkest depths of addiction a chance at recovery. She ends up giving them something more: dignity and respect.

The book recounts the frustrating red tape and sourcing for funders and skilled staff to establish the first methadone clinic at Shoosh Square, a heavy heroin using area in Teheran.

𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒓𝒖𝒈 𝑨𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏 is an important reminder that the pernicious influence of heroin has no boundaries and in Iran, home if the “morality police”, drug use by females is common whether obtained by a street dealer or home-delivered.

𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓

Dr Kate Dolan is a professor of public health at the University of New South Wales, Australia. She has carried out over 100 studies, has published over 270 publications and received $39 million in research funds. She has been a consultant for the International Narcotics Control Board, the United Nations and the World Health Organization. She received a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study managed alcohol programs. She received a Senior Fulbright Fellowship from Kansas State University to study solitary confinement in prison. She established the first methadone clinic for female drug users in Iran.

Thank you to @NetGalley and Interactive Publications Pty Ltd for a DRC copy.

[Janne Lissa, MD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professor Kate Dolan is one of the worldwide leading scientists and clinicians in the field of HIV, safe drug use, and methadone programs. In 1986 she founded with some of her colleagues the first needle and syringe program in Australia, which happened to be the third in the world. In the decades after she was closely involved with the establishment of treatment centers for women in Iran as well as the provision of methadone treatment to women in Irani prisons.

''I asked if I could take off my hejab in the car and she says 'Are you crazy?' If the police see you, they will put you in jail.' We both laughed as I had asked her several times how could I visit prison this time.''

In ''Beating drug addiction in Tehran'' prof. Dolan provides a colourful story about her honest experiences in Iran. The book provides sufficient medical background for those that are unfamiliar with the work field and prof. Dolan's insightful and unique perspective in such a rare international program is both fascinating and inspiring. Within the book, so many topics are covered: Iran's politics, prison systems, medical care, and daily life as well as medical aid, drug treatment, international collaborations etc. The book is a great read for anyone in the field of international health, addiction medicine or public health as well as for those with a genuine interest in these topics.

To put everything - her own work, the clinic, the political struggle - into perspective, prof. Dolan ends on a very important note, which we should all keep in mind:

''Sustainability is a key goal in international development. While it will not always be possible to continue specialised clinics like this one, it is often hoped that the main stream services can change to accommodate minority groups who need specific services.''




Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and detailed account of drug addiction in Tehran. It's readable and paints a picture, but I think the author tried to do two things at once: appeal to researchers and also tell a story for non-researchers. This resulted in a kind of disjointed account that skips around and includes content that seems to belong elsewhere. But with patience, a reader can get a good idea of the challenges of running a clinic in Tehran and what works and what does not work.
Some of the author's words are off-putting in their bluntness and leaves the reader wondering whether there was true empathy for the women the clinic treated or whether she just needed her research to be verified. In this sense, once again I was wondering who the intended audience is for this book.

[Gino Vumbaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good and interesting read by an author with a clear understanding on the issues of drug use and women in Iran. The author is to be congratulated for not only the quality of the book but the incredible quality of her work in Iran. A must read and should be required reading in any courses teaching about drug use in our society today.

[NCChris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish the book. The story was disjointed and difficult to follow from the beginning.

It seemed to be written almost as a stream -of-consciousness and simply was impossible for me to connect with, thought the subject matter was of interest.

[Sally Cruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book told by an epic in the field of drug policy and harm reduction. Well worth a read if you’re interested in drug policy, women’s rights, international development or just to expand your world views.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book however that proved impossible to do.
The text was terrible with no spacing between the words so I 2as unable to read it.
I have to say I'm really disappointed as I think this book would have been a really interesting read.