Ramadan Inspires Moroccans to Tackle Addiction and Substance Abuse

Many Moroccans take advantage of this period of fasting, prayer and deprivation to get rid of their addictions to drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Each year, many of them make the resolution to reduce or stop their consumption of these products during this period, reports TelQuel. Some Moroccans even stop consuming them well before the start of the month of Ramadan, to respect a certain belief according to which fasting would not be in conformity if the last consumption of alcohol dated back less than forty days.

Fasting can "help overcome addictions" and "reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms," admits Saad Oukili Idrissi, a psychiatrist and addiction specialist, regretting that this withdrawal is often only "temporary". To get rid of an addiction, which he recalls is a disease, you have to consult health professionals. According to the latest data from the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), Morocco has 6 million cigarette smokers and nearly 3% of the population (estimated at 7 million inhabitants) are addicted to drugs, 2% consume alcohol excessively and 1.4% are addicted to it.