A growing mental health crisis is fueling a sharp increase in addiction among Moroccan youth, with depression, anxiety and emotional distress pushing many toward drugs, gambling and digital dependency, according to a new report from Morocco’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE).
The report found that about 3% of Moroccans meet the criteria for addiction, while 4.1% regularly use psychoactive substances. Young people are the most affected, often turning to harmful behaviors as coping mechanisms in the face of chronic stress and untreated mental health conditions.
The crisis is particularly acute among intravenous drug users, whose population is estimated at 18,500 nationwide. Public health data shows high rates of infection among this group, including Hepatitis C in 59% of users and HIV in 11.4%.
But addiction is spreading far beyond illicit drugs. The report highlights mass dependence on legal substances and behaviors. An estimated 6 million Moroccans are smokers, including 500,000 minors.
In addition, between 2.8 million and 3.3 million people regularly engage in gambling, with about 40% considered at high risk of developing a gambling addiction.
Meanwhile, screen dependency and compulsive video gaming are surging among teenagers, prompting experts to warn of a “generational public health emergency.”
The World Health Organization has raised global concerns, citing 2.6 million deaths per year linked to alcohol use and 600,000 annual deaths from psychotropic drug abuse.
In response, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity is expanding its network of rehabilitation centers in Casablanca, Moulay Rachid, and Tit Mellil. These facilities offer a comprehensive approach to addiction recovery, combining psychiatric care, physical rehabilitation, art therapy, yoga, and fitness programs.
Each patient receives follow-up care after discharge to support long-term recovery and reintegration.
Officials say the model seeks to transform addiction from a life sentence into a turning point, but warn that without expanded access to mental health services, preventive education, and stronger social support systems, the crisis could deepen further.
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