Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 48 12 2019 12 02 2154 2164 Mojtaba ZIAEE Medicinal Plants Research Center, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran Reza HAJIZADEH Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Arash KHORRAMI Medicinal Plants Research Center, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran Nariman SEPEHRVAND Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB., Canada Saeideh MOMTAZ Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Tehran, Iran Samad GHAFFARI Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 2019 12 02 Opiates are the second most prevalent abused illicit sub­stance after cannabis in the world. The latest United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report estimated 30% increment in opium cultivation worldwide. High prevalence of opium consumption in eastern countries may be due to the high availability and traditional misconceptions. Opium consumption has been linked to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and coronary artery diseases (CAD). In this review, we will review the association between opium use, cardiovascular diseases, and clinical outcomes. The present evidence suggests that chronic opiate consumption may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and related mortality. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/19063 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/19063/6596