• Government creates a multisector commission to implement drug-testing rules in schools and training centers.

• Medical teams will conduct periodic screenings and offer treatment without legal prosecution.

• Official data show rising addiction among youths, including 54,000 students who used psychotropic substances in early 2023.

Algeria faces rising concern over drug use among young people, which threatens student safety and undermines academic performance. The government now seeks to secure schools through a coordinated, cross-sector approach focused on prevention and student support.

On November 24 in Algiers, Education Minister Mohamed Seghir Saâdaoui and Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudène jointly launched a multisector commission. The body will draft a roadmap to implement the decree on drug and psychotropic-substance testing in schools and training institutions. The measure marks a key step in Algeria’s national strategy to protect students from narcotics.

Available information shows that the commission brings together representatives from key ministries and institutions including the police, the gendarmerie and civil protection services. Medical teams—comprising doctors, psychologists and paramedics—will monitor the physical and mental health of students.

The legal framework relies on the law governing the prevention and repression of illicit drug use and trafficking. The law prioritizes the protection of school environments and strengthens intersector coordination to prevent and curb violations. In practice, periodic medical examinations will detect early use of banned substances, and affected students will receive treatment rather than face judicial action. The education minister said the commission’s work aims primarily to protect and prevent, ensuring student well-being and safety.

Recent data underline the urgency of the initiative. The National Office for the Fight Against Drugs and Drug Addiction, cited by El Watan, reported that 3.33% of youths under 15 and 33.17% of those aged 16 to 25 received addiction treatment in 2022, including around 700 enrolled minors. Additional statistics presented at a December 2023 conference at the CRASC research center in Oran show that nearly 54,000 students consumed psychotropic substances during the first half of 2023, yet only 518 accessed appropriate care.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum