The Mediterranean School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs in Morocco

 Drugs remain a matter of concern in Morocco, although it is illegal and forbidden in Islam. Epidemiologic studies previously conducted in Morocco indicate that drug use is increasing among the youth and women. To conduct well-designed surveys on drug use in schools, Morocco adopted the MedSPAD (Mediterranean School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs), which is supported by the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe. This project includes countries like Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt, and encompasses the mandatory school-going-age group of 15- to 17-year-olds in Mediterranean countries. In Morocco, following a pilot survey in 2003, MedSPAD surveys were conducted in two big cities (Rabat and Salé), before the first nationwide study was undertaken in 2009 and the second in 2013. The objectives of the Moroccan MedSPAD were to determine the prevalence of substance use among 15- to 17-year-old youths; to determine the age of onset of drug use; and to learn about teenagers’ knowledge, perspectives, and behaviors regarding drugs. The project sought to identify some of the predictive factors of drug use to aid in devising strong policies for facilitating mental health support and drug prevention in Moroccan schools. MedSPAD surveys demonstrated students’ extensive drug use. The surveys found initial drug use since a young age, which suggests that preventive and counseling programs need to be implemented for very young students (elementary school), prior to onset. The development of effective school prevention policies and community intervention programs (prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation) may need immediate attention. Similar surveys need to be conducted to observe drug use trends among the Moroccan youth.