Drugs in Côte d’Ivoire: Why Young People Are Particularly Exposed

Côte d’Ivoire is facing a worrying increase in the circulation and use of drugs. Long described as a transit area, West Africa has also become a major area of consumption. In Côte d’Ivoire, the phenomenon notably involves cannabis, cocaine, heroin and pharmaceutical products diverted from their medical use.

Young people under 35 are the group most affected by drug use, according to the cited reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In response to this situation, efforts rely on several approaches: dismantling points of sale, combating networks, raising awareness among families and providing health support to people with addiction.

West Africa: From Transit to Consumption

Between 2019 and 2022, at least 57 tonnes of cocaine passed through the West African sub-region, according to the UNODC. Côte d’Ivoire accounted for 3.5 tonnes of this volume. These data illustrate the importance of the routes used by traffickers along the coast and from neighbouring countries.

This geographical position exposes the country to greater availability of illicit substances. But the problem is not limited to international cocaine flows. In urban neighbourhoods as well as in other parts of the country, security forces also report the presence of cannabis, crack, heroin and tramadol used outside a medical setting.

The diversion of medicines is a specific concern. When pharmaceutical products are used without a prescription or medical supervision, they can be added to illicit drugs in patterns of use. Tramadol is among the substances found during several operations.

Aboisso and Abidjan: Operations Against Points of Sale

In the South-Comoé region, Aboisso is presented as a strategic point on transit routes running along the coast or coming from neighbouring countries. The gendarmerie’s anti-drug units conduct targeted operations there based on intelligence gathered in the field.

In the Sokoura neighbourhood, two men aged 30 and 35 were arrested at a site where drugs were used and sold. The reported seizures included 58 doses of crack and heroin, 89 pellets of cannabis and 67 tramadol tablets.

For 2024, the 20 anti-drug units of the National Gendarmerie, including the one in Aboisso, recorded 2,058 arrests. They also seized more than 170 million CFA francs in cash. These figures provide an indication of the activity of the networks and the scale of the financial resources that may be associated with them.

In Abidjan, the Directorate of Narcotics and Drugs Police (DPSD) also acts against distribution networks. In the municipality of Abobo, an operation led to the dismantling of a network connected to diverted pharmaceutical products, with more than two tonnes seized.

In the Colombie neighbourhood, two drug dens were identified and then destroyed. The forces involved seized 10 kilograms of cannabis, 50 doses of cocaine and heroin, as well as more than 200 tramadol capsules. About a dozen young users were also arrested.

A Challenge: Neighbourhood Support for Combating Trafficking

Police operations do not always take place without tension. Specialized officers report that, when certain drug dens are dismantled or sellers are arrested, young people may try to obstruct their work or free an arrested person.

This situation shows that combating drugs is not solely a matter of law-enforcement action. It also requires cooperation with residents, parents, community leaders and young people themselves. Without this local support, points of sale can reappear and traffickers may retain a degree of protection in their immediate surroundings.

The issue of protecting minors deserves particular attention. In Abidjan, the ease with which young people can access certain high-risk places and products raises broader questions about adult vigilance and monitoring arrangements. The subject is also explored in this article on protection gaps affecting minors exposed to alcohol and tobacco in Abidjan.

Preventing Addiction Before It Takes Hold

Awareness-raising efforts are conducted alongside field operations. In Abobo, five police commissioners were mobilized to inform young people and their parents about the dangers associated with narcotics and medicines consumed for non-medical purposes.

The aim is to help families identify certain worrying behaviours and better understand the possible consequences of use. Prevention also seeks to challenge the normalization of certain products in neighbourhoods, especially when their sale appears visible or easily accessible.

This work involves recalling that a substance presented as commonplace or readily available is not therefore risk-free. Peer pressure, curiosity, proximity to a seller or the example of someone close can all contribute to the start of drug use. The account of a patient receiving addiction care thus mentions first trying cannabis during adolescence, in a family context.

Strengthening dialogue with young people is therefore a lever for prevention. It also means not reducing users to delinquency: some people need medical and social support to overcome addiction in a lasting way.

Care and Resocialization for Drug Users

In Africa, 93% of people receiving care for drug-related disorders are men, with an average age of around 30, according to the cited UNODC data. This observation aligns with the high exposure of young adults seen in Côte d’Ivoire.

In Abidjan, the Centre for Reception and Support in Reducing Dependence (CASA) assists more than 2,000 drug users through a resocialization approach. Admission is not necessarily conditional on immediately stopping use. Teams first seek to identify the person’s main need, including when they seek help for apparently unrelated health issues, such as chronic wounds.

This approach can make it possible to establish contact with people who do not yet feel ready to begin withdrawal. Depending on their circumstances, they may later seek specific help to reduce or stop their use. Some patients in particular receive methadone treatment, used as a substitution treatment.

Support is therefore not limited to medical matters. Resocialization also involves rebuilding points of reference, maintaining access to care and supporting people living with an addiction that has been established for several years.

A Coordinated Response Combining Security, Prevention and Health

In Côte d’Ivoire, enforcement, prevention and support actions for people affected by drugs are coordinated by the Interministerial Committee for the Fight Against Drugs, SILADE. Training stakeholders and securing funding to roll out programmes are among the identified needs.

Combating trafficking remains central, particularly to reduce supply and disrupt criminal networks. However, seizures and arrests cannot be the only response to a phenomenon that directly affects young people, families and neighbourhoods.

Early awareness-raising, public involvement, attention to minors and access to non-stigmatizing care appear to be complementary dimensions. This protection-based approach reflects the issues raised by the prevention of risky behaviours among minors in Abidjan, where the role of adults and families is also decisive.

FAQ: Drugs and Young People in Côte d’Ivoire

Which drugs are cited as being particularly present in Côte d’Ivoire?

The substances mentioned are cannabis, cocaine, heroin, crack, and tramadol or other pharmaceutical products used outside a medical setting.

Who is most affected by drug use?

According to the cited UNODC reports, people under 35 are the most affected by drug use in Côte d’Ivoire.

Is care available for people with addiction in Abidjan?

Yes. CASA supports more than 2,000 drug users through care and resocialization services. Some patients may receive methadone substitution treatment.