'Five of these machines which have been made will be installed in five of Teheran city's welfare shelters for addicts,' the deputy head of Iran's anti-narcotics organisation, Mohammad Reza Jahani, said.

'Condoms, syringes, bandages and plasters will be easily accessible just by inserting a coin. This protects addicts from acquiring AIDS and hepatitis,' he added, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

He said that a single 500 rial (S$0.06) coin is required to purchase the items.

'The machines will be used for a three month trial period and if the scheme is successful then we will upgrade them and increase their distribution to other shelters,' he added.

Iranian officials admit the country has a serious drug abuse problem. They normally estimate the number of regular drug users at two million in a country with a population of more than 71 million. -- AFP