The opiate of the Iranian masses

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. Karl Marx

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this story, but apparently, in Iran, opium is the opiate of the masses:

According to the U.N. World Drug Report for 2005, Iran has the highest proportion of opiate addicts in the world -- 2.8 per cent of the population over age 15. Only two other countries -- Mauritius and Kyrgyzstan -- pass the 2 percent mark. With a population of about 70 million and some government agencies putting the number of regular users close to 4 million, Iran has no real competition as world leader in per capita addiction to opiates, including heroin.

This astounding addiction rate is attributable to a combination of factors including low cost, unemployment, and a lack entertainment opportunities. It's just cheaper than getting drunk.

And I suppose getting any Zoloft is out of the question.