Youth drug addiction has increased fivefold in 10 years, Tunisian researchers warn

Tunisian experts have sounded the alarm over a sharp rise in drug addiction among young people, warning that the number of youth addicts has increased fivefold over the past decade. Researchers attribute the surge to early school dropout, unemployment and family disintegration.

Sociologist Khalifa Al-Qarbi told Mosaique FM that the scale of addiction has become “dangerously alarming”, stressing the need for greater investment in prevention rather than relying solely on treatment.

Citing data from the National Institute of Statistics, Al-Qarbi noted that the proportion of young people addicted to drugs rose from 1.3 per cent in 2013 to 8.9 per cent in 2023 — an increase of more than fivefold.

He added that addiction is particularly prevalent among adolescents aged 13 to 18, with the average age of addicts at 17 years and three months. According to the studies, 30 per cent of young addicts are girls, while 40 per cent are students.

Meanwhile, Hichem Hajji, a member of the National Bureau of the Tunisian Organisation for Education and Family, said that security crackdowns — despite their impact on reducing trafficking — are “insufficient” in addressing the growing addiction problem.

Hajji identified school dropout, unemployment and family instability as the primary drivers of youth addiction, calling for broader community intervention through vocational integration, training programmes and expanded access to sports and recreational activities.

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