“Poor people’s drug,” “poor people’s coke,” or “crack” are widespread terms that infiltrated the Moroccan market just a few years ago. After Cannabis resin, coke, and ecstasy, this new substance–which goes by the name “Pouffa” or “Boufa”–has become wildly popular and is wreaking havoc on unsuspecting users, as it added another layer of complexity to the existing challenges of addiction.
Made from the derivatives of cocaine, Boufa was popularized both because of how quickly it addicts its audience and its relatively low price. Once the “hook” occurs—typically after only a few “highs”—the unsuspecting are bewildered by the horrifying side effects of this consciousness-erasing substance, as well as its immediate euphoric effect.
Boufa is typically smoked and delivers an intense, short-lived high. Originating in South America (typically Colombia), the drug has found its way to Morocco through various trafficking routes.
To make Boufa, cocaine is mixed with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or ammonia and water. This mixture is heated and then cooled, forming solid “rocks” or “crystals” of crack cocaine. These solid crack cocaine rocks are then broken into smaller, smokable pieces using a tool such as a glass pipe, which is commonly referred to as a “crack pipe.”
The user applies a heat source, such as a lighter, to the bottom of the Boufa in the pipe. As the Boufa is heated, it turns into a vapor, which is then inhaled through the mouthpiece of the pipe.
The drug has primarily permeated urban areas, particularly in Casablanca, where high population densities and socioeconomic disparities create an environment conducive to drug abuse.
Pshychiatrist-Addictologist Expert in rTMS and Deep TMS Dr. Idrissi Oukili Saad said in an interview with BarlamanToday that one of the primary reasons Boufa is so addictive is its rapid onset of euphoria, which, as previously mentioned, is complemented by its low price. “When smoked, Boufa quickly reaches the brain and provides pleasure and reward. This creates an intense and immediate feeling of heightened energy, confidence, and a sense of invincibility,” he added.
However, this effect is short-lived, lasting only a few minutes. As a result, individuals often seek repeated doses to maintain the desired high, leading to a dangerous pattern of binge use that can rapidly spiral into addiction.
Another reason that makes the drug accessible to all is its affordability, as the cost of an entire gram of Boufa typically does not exceed 60 MAD.
The doctor warned that Boufa can have severe and nightmarish effects on health. It can damage the respiratory system, causing coughing, lung infections, and even respiratory failure, and lead to intense, unpredictable mood swings, anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Besides the health risks, Boufa addiction frequently leads to financial ruin, as individuals prioritize their drug habit over meeting basic needs. This, in turn, fuels crime rates, as addicts resort to theft, prostitution, and other illicit activities to sustain their addiction. The resulting disintegration of families has strained social networks, and a rise in domestic violence is also an unfortunate consequence of this drug’s impact on Moroccan society.
“Boufa’s addiction is a strong addiction because it is a psychological addiction, which means that the users want to repeatedly consume this drug because they can take off from it,” explained Oukili.
The doctor went on to say that there is no drug or medication that can substitute for this substance. Nevertheless, the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) technique, endorsed by the American University of Psychiatry and Addiction, is the sole remedy for this addiction
Additionally, Moroccan authorities sounded an alarming rise in Pouffa’s consumption. Morocco’s National Police (DGSN), in coordination with the national Territory Surveillance (DGST), announced that around 112 suspected Boufa smugglers have been arrested and 1,413 kg of this substance have been seized in security operations carried out in several cities of Morocco, between August 4 and September 2, 2023.
The security operation has targeted mainly the outskirts of Casablanca and Settat, and has led to the dismantling of six criminal networks involved in trafficking this drug in the localities of Deroua, Lahraouyine, Mediouna, Errahma, and Bouskoura, as well as the dismantling of points of sale for this narcotic.
Police services also arrested 632 people for possession or trafficking of drugs or psychotropic substances of various kinds, including 153 who were the subject of national wanted notices and 479 caught red-handed possessing these items.