In the heart of Tangier, a visual artist has been living a daily nightmare for months, as her neighborhood has turned into a gathering point for users of the drug «Pouffa». From her window, Sanae documents with photographs the painful scenes of children, women, and girls falling into the clutches of addiction, and she repeatedly calls for urgent intervention to save what can be saved. In the heart of Tangier, on Velasquez Street — one of the city's well-known thoroughfares — visual artist Sanae Alami has been living a daily nightmare for the past five months. The quiet neighborhood she once chose for a peaceful life has turned into an open gathering point for hard drug users, making her a witness to disturbing scenes from her window overlooking the street. A Quiet Neighborhood Turned into a Drug Hotspot «Every day we see new faces, from different age groups, starting as young as 16, including girls and women» Sanae told Yabiladi with visible regret. «What's horrifying is that some of them engage in prostitution near the park next to us to get money for drugs. There are even pregnant women, and others who use drugs in front of their children. I witness all of this daily, and my heart burns», she added. According to the visual artist, while some of the users are from Tangier, «the majority come from other cities», turning the area into a known destination for anyone seeking a dose of «Pouffa», also known as the «cocaine of the poor». She recounts how the dealer arrives each night on a motorcycle to supply the addicts, explaining, «We heard he first gives them free doses to attract new customers». Sanae says she often sees with her own eyes how the drug is used, «heated in spoons over fire or on aluminum foil, using pens and strange tools». These scenes unfold just a few meters from her home. Sometimes, she is even approached for money by the same users when she leaves her building. The problem, she adds, extends beyond the drug use itself: «The street is littered with waste and used paraphernalia, turning the neighborhood into a polluted and unsafe space». Complaints and Petitions, But No Change Faced with this grim reality, Sanae took to social media, posting photos almost daily to document what she and her neighbors endure in hopes of catching the authorities' attention. She also joined local residents and merchants in signing a petition, supported by photos, and submitted it to the public prosecutor. «The situation improved for only two days before everything went back to how it was», she said. One post led to an unexpected revelation. After sharing a photo of what was happening beneath her window, Sanae received a call informing her that one of the girls in the picture came from a well-known family and had been a math student before falling into addiction. «That shock made me realize the extent of the social catastrophe silently afflicting our city», she said. «Honestly, I've lost the ability to sleep», she confessed. «I wake up several times during the night to find the same scene outside my window. As days go by, the numbers increase, and the groups keep getting larger». Sanae recently met with the local caïd (district chief), urging him to increase security in the area after the phenomenon spread to nearby neighborhoods. She also tried reaching out to an association but was told, «They can't help me in this case, they only focus on cleaning up the homeless». «I don't despise the addicts», she insisted, «but I can no longer accept this harsh reality that has turned my daily life into a constant source of anxiety». She stopped her morning jogging routine out of fear and admits she has started experiencing psychological distress because of what she sees every day. «I even see them in my dreams», she said sadly. The visual artist now plans, alongside several associations, to organize a roundtable next month to discuss ways to address this phenomenon, which has spread far beyond her neighborhood. She is calling on the authorities to strengthen security in the area, but also insists that the solution cannot rely solely on policing. «We need treatment centers for addicts and a humanitarian approach that protects both the residents and those trapped in addiction», she said.
