The short answer
Drug names in the Maghreb differ from one country to another. In Morocco cannabis is called “kif”, smuggled sedative pills are known as “karkoubi” — most of them benzodiazepines such as Rivotril and Valium — and “bofa” refers to a cheap drug made from cocaine residue. In Tunisia cannabis is called “zatla”, and buprenorphine, known by the brand name Subutex, is misused. In Algeria some young people have called pregabalin “saroukh” (“the rocket”). Knowing the name helps a family understand what they hear, but it isn’t enough on its own to judge whether there is an addiction.
- CannabisKif in Morocco and zatla in Tunisia
- PillsKarkoubi and saroukh
- Most dangerousBofa and injected Subutex
A mother may hear the word “zatla”, “karkoubi” or “bofa” in her son’s phone call without knowing what it means, and then worry about everything or ignore what deserves attention. This guide brings together the best-known drug names in use in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, with the substance each refers to, what each means for health, and when the situation is urgent. It complements our guides to drug street names in Egypt and drug street names in Saudi Arabia.
Names for cannabis and hashish
- Kif: the best-known Moroccan name for cannabis and hashish, linked to the areas in the north where it is grown.
- Zatla: the Tunisian name for cannabis, and the one most present in public debate about Tunisia’s drug law.
- Shira: a name heard in Moroccan news about seizures of slabs and sheets of cannabis products.
Hashish isn’t a “light drug” as people say; regular use weakens memory and motivation, and can trigger psychosis in those predisposed to it. The details are in our hashish guide.
Karkoubi: the “hallucination pills”
Karkoubi is a common Moroccan name for pills used outside a medical prescription, most of them benzodiazepines such as Rivotril and Valium, often smuggled across borders. Some people mix them with hashish or alcohol, a combination that increases the risk of losing consciousness and depressed breathing. These pills shouldn’t be stopped suddenly after long use, because withdrawal can cause seizures. Read our benzodiazepine guide.
Saroukh: pregabalin in Algeria
Some young people in Algeria have called pregabalin “saroukh” (“the rocket”) because of its effect on the mind. It is a medicine for nerve pain and epilepsy that is misused in large doses or mixed with other substances. The most dangerous thing about it is mixing it with opioids or sedatives, because of the depressed breathing this causes. The details are in our pregabalin guide.
Bofa: the “cocaine of the poor”
Bofa is a cheap drug made from cocaine residue mixed with chemicals, usually smoked, and known in Morocco as the “cocaine of the poor”. It spreads quickly because its price is low, but its effect is very short and the craving after it is intense, so use repeats several times a day, and irritability, suspicion, insomnia and weight loss soon appear. Read our bofa guide.
Subutex: buprenorphine in Tunisia
Subutex is a brand name for buprenorphine, a medicine used medically to treat opioid addiction, but in Tunisia it is smuggled and misused, often crushed and injected. Injecting here adds the risks of infection, abscesses and hepatitis. Read buprenorphine and the harms of injecting drugs.
Does hearing the name mean my son is using?
Not necessarily. Some of these words have become part of street language, songs and social media. More important than the name is a change in behavior: disturbed sleep, isolation, falling grades, repeated requests for money, a change of friends, and sharp mood swings. If several signs come together, a calm conversation followed by a medical assessment is better than confrontation and accusation. You will find practical steps in how to help someone addicted to drugs.
When is it urgent?
- Loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing or blue lips, especially after mixing pills with other substances.
- Seizures after suddenly stopping sedative pills.
- Severe agitation, or suspicion and hallucinations after bofa or stimulants.
- Any talk of self-harm.
In these cases, go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
How can Riviera Life help you?
If you have heard one of these names and want to know whether it is cause for concern, a confidential remote consultation with Riviera Life helps you understand the situation and your next step, whether treatment is in your own country or in Egypt. The first consultation is free and confidential on +201507999722.
Read also
- Addiction treatment in Morocco
- Addiction treatment in Algeria
- Addiction treatment in Tunisia
- Addiction treatment in Libya
Questions many people ask
A Moroccan name for pills used outside a medical prescription, most of them benzodiazepines such as Rivotril and Valium.
The common Tunisian name for cannabis or hashish.
A name some young people in Algeria gave pregabalin because of its effect on the mind when it is misused.
