Trajectories of an addiction: ethnography of heroin use in Tangier (Morocco)

Khalid Mouna,Abdellah Essaouidi

doi:10.34019/2318-101x.2020.v15.30465

Abstract

    Desde os anos 80, o cenário do uso ilegal de drogas mudou no Marrocos. Isso ocorreu através da introdução de novos medicamentos e novos modos de consumo. A posição geográfica de Marrocos contribuiu ativamente para facilitar o trânsito de cocaína de Sahel; heroína que chega pelos dois enclaves de Sebta e Melilla; e psicotrópicos da Europa ou em trânsito na Argélia. Os anos 2000 foram marcados pela “democratização” de certas drogas, com a chegada maciça de cocaína e heroína em Marrocos, que até então estava reservada a uma clientela mais abastada. Assim, a “kahla / heroína”, introduzida no norte a um preço de cerca de 20 dirhams (2 euros) por grama, gerou um número considerável de usuários de drogas injetáveis. Usando a cidade de Tânger como espaço de trabalho, este artigo tenta entender o processo do vício em heroína e tenta responder às seguintes perguntas: como as pessoas se tornam viciadas? Como é romper o vínculo social? Como eles experimentam a posição de usuário doente?   

Highlights

Since the 1980s, the landscape of illegal drug use has changed in Morocco
A new reality has just been added to this position as the world leader in cannabis: the massive arrival of new drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, and psychotropic pills
The reasons for this change lie first of all in: the country’s strategic position as a crossroads linking Africa and Europe, the economic development of the port platforms in the north of the country, in Tangier, which has accelerated the transformation of Tangier into an important transit zone for goods and for drugs, and the presence of the two Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla, which constitute a transit route for all kinds of drugs4.Northern Morocco has become an area for the consumption of drugs, heroin, with extremely low prices compared to the rest of Morocco

Summary

Introduction

Since the 1980s, the landscape of illegal drug use has changed in Morocco. This has come about through the introduction of new drugs and new modes of consumption. Based on an ethnographic approach in the city of Tangier, this article attempts to understand how the career of the Junkies takes place, and how the social barriers that separate drug addicts, heroin addicts, from the rest of society are set up.

Results

Conclusion