Algiers – Brahim, a 14-year-old student, has been visiting the local health centre in Cherchell every week for a year to participate in individual therapy sessions and receive career guidance. “I came to seek help for my addiction to cannabis and tobacco,” he confides. “It was very difficult at first. I had trouble communicating with others. But week after week, the staff at the centre helped me gain confidence in myself. They encourage me not to drop out of school and not to lose hope.”

In Algeria, dependence on psychotropic substances, particularly among young people and adolescents, is alarming and recognized as a serious public health issue. According to treatment data in  Algeria, more than 34,000 people primarily those aged 16 to 35 received treatment at addiction facilities in 2023.

To address this growing concern, Algeria is intensifying its efforts to protect the health and well-being of its population. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a series of advocacy campaigns and public awareness initiatives aimed at integrating addiction prevention and treatment into local health programmes.

Three regional meetings, spanning 25 wilayas (local governments or provinces) in the central, eastern, and western regions of the country, provided the platform to train more than 500 professionals and health sector officials. Participants included health facility directors, programme managers, and representatives from the scientific community and civil society. Each wilaya identified its specific needs, set priorities, and developed tailored action plans to improve care delivery for their populations, with rigorous progress monitoring aligned with the SDG 3 targets for 2025 and 2030.

In Tipaza wilaya, a microproject aimed at combating addiction was launched in 2023 with support from WHO. This initiative focuses on preventing addiction within school environments and providing care and support for social and professional reintegration.

To achieve the SDG 3, prevention and risk management systems have been established to reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco addiction. In Tipaza, the project is based on an intersectoral approach, involving education, vocational training, environmental programmes, and local governments to provide a global and comprehensive approach to health care.

“We designed a programme that brings together various stakeholders, including school psychologists and epidemiologists to primarily target young men, who are particularly vulnerable to polydrug use of cannabis resin and psychotropic substances,” explains Dr Djama Lamia, an addiction specialist at the Cherchell local public health facility and one of the trained health professionals.

“The training we received through the SDG project allowed us to clearly define our objectives and optimize our approach in supporting young people in situations of dependency.”

The Ministry of Health continues its efforts to strengthen prevention by leveraging local services and expanding specialized infrastructures. Currently, 48 outpatient centres and five medical facilities dedicated to addiction treatment are providing care to young people in educational settings nationwide. Treatment within this framework is entirely free and voluntary.

“Awareness-raising initiatives on the dangers of drugs, programmes promoting healthy lifestyles, as well as support groups involving parents have been deployed on a large scale,” explains Professor Mohamed Chakali, Deputy Director of Mental Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health.

To achieve the SDG 3 targets, the Ministry is focusing on expanding training, replicating microprojects such as the one in Tipaza across other wilayas, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems. A platform for monitoring the indicators for each wilaya is being finalized, enabling the assessment of local actions and the publication of results on progress towards achieving the SDG 3 targets.

“Measuring the SDG 3 targets across the 58 wilayas is essential for tracking progress towards universal health coverage throughout the country and for improving the SDG 3 indicators by 2030,” says Ouali Amar, Director of Population and Head of the SDG unit at the Ministry of Health.

“Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals in Algeria largely depends on the involvement of citizens,” emphasizes Amina Boudamous, the Programme Administration Officer at the WHO Country Office in Algeria. “Interventions must be tailored to local needs and strengthen the participation of beneficiaries so that young people like Brahim can take charge of their own health.”

“I still have a long way to go, but I know I can make it,” Brahim confidently asserts. “More than just a health centre, it is a refuge for me. I can see myself in the future and who knows, one day I may become a counsellor and help other young people like me.”