Morocco to conduct nationwide survey on drug addiction

The Moroccan health department will conduct next September a nationwide survey on drug addition and care offered to drug addicts.

Moroccan health minister, Thami El Khyari, told last week executive director of the UN International Drug Control Program, Pino Arlacchi, a census will be conducted on the phenomenon. He also briefed the UN official on Morocco's policy in promoting public awareness on the phenomenon.

Arlacchi said his institution is ready to provide Morocco the needed technical help for the census.

The UN official, who has been meeting Moroccan officials, including prime minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, heard various presentations on Morocco's strategy to control drug growing, which focuses on offering about 12,000 families living on cannabis growing and trafficking. The strategy has so far helped in maintaining areas where cannabis is grown at 65,000 HA, the 1994 level.

The Moroccan officials also cited an impediment to drug-control efforts lies in the lack of unified policy on the part of Europe, main outlet for the Moroccan-grown cannabis.