The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has flagged concerning shifts in drug use patterns in Morocco, particularly among minors, in its 2025 World Drug Report.
Based on 2023 data, the report highlights a troubling surge in drug consumption among those aged 0–17, in stark contrast to relatively stable trends among adults.
While cannabis remains the most commonly used drug in Morocco, the report indicates only minor fluctuations in overall consumption. Among minors, a slight decrease in cannabis use was observed, while usage levels remained steady in the 18–24 and 25+ age brackets.
However, a more worrying trend has emerged among underage users: a noticeable uptick in cocaine consumption, signaling its early penetration into adolescent populations. In contrast, usage rates among adults showed no significant change.
Perhaps the most critical finding of the report is a more than 10% rise in non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugsamong minors. This trend reflects the increasing misuse of tranquilizers and painkillers outside prescribed medical settings.
UNODC experts link this surge to the relative ease of access to such substances, as well as potential links to undiagnosed mental health conditions among youth. The rise in heroin use among those under 18, although modest (between 5–10%), adds another layer of concern about the vulnerability of Morocco’s youth to severe forms of substance addiction.
The report also references 2021 data showing that 10% of individuals receiving addiction treatment in Morocco were treated primarily for tramadol dependence, a synthetic opioid. Strikingly, the gender distribution defies global norms: 17% of female patients were treated for tramadol use, compared to only 9% of males.
This makes Morocco one of the few African countries where women outpace men in tramadol dependency, although overall prevalence remains moderate compared to high-use countries like Egypt or Sierra Leone, where tramadol accounts for over 30% of treatment cases.
Globally, cocaine seizures reached a record 2,235 metric tons in 2023, a 12% increase in traditional consumer markets such as the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, which together accounted for 98% of global seizures.
However, the sharpest increases were recorded in emerging markets, especially Africa and Asia, where cocaine seizures rose by 85% year-on-year, underscoring the rapid expansion of trafficking networks into previously less-affected regions.
In Morocco, this trend is mirrored by an uptick in admissions to drug treatment centers for cocaine use. Other African nations witnessing similar patterns include Angola, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Senegal, and Zambia.
Despite these developments, the report emphasizes that Africa and Europe combined still account for less than 3% of global cocaine seizures, suggesting a significant proportion of trafficking activity in these regions remains undetected.
As Morocco grapples with a growing drug crisis among its youth, exacerbated by the rising misuse of pharmaceuticals and the encroachment of cocaine, the report urges a comprehensive public health response.
This includes enhanced monitoring systems, better mental health support for adolescents, gender-sensitive prevention strategies, and regional cooperation to combat cross-border trafficking.
UNODC’s findings position Morocco at a critical juncture. While it is not yet among the continent’s highest-burden countries, the emerging trends call for urgent attention to prevent a broader escalation in drug dependence and its associated health, social, and security consequences.
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