From the Punitive Approach to Therapeutic Solidarity: A Sociological Reading of the Institutional Transformations of Healthcare for Addicts in Algeria

Abstract

This study examines the structural transformation in Algeria’s approach to addiction, shifting from punitive deterrence and social stigma toward therapeutic solidarity. Historically, addiction was framed as a moral and social deviation, resulting in the isolation of addicts within punitive institutions that reinforced marginalization and recidivism. However, demographic changes, socio-cultural transformations, and rising rates of psychotropic substance use have necessitated a reconsideration of exclusionary policies. The institutional response has been the adoption of national strategies emphasizing therapeutic and psychological dimensions, notably through the establishment of specialized treatment centers. This transition reflects a sociological shift from rigid “control institutions” to “care institutions” grounded in solidarity. Beyond legislative reform, it redefines daily interactions within therapeutic settings, where the relationship between medical practitioners and addicts is increasingly based on recognition and containment rather than condemnation and moral prejudice.