Shisha consumption and dynamics of normalization of deviant practices among young people in abidjan (Ivory Coast)

Adolescent socialization is shaped by ethnic identity, class status, place of residence, and peer influence in the adoption of risky behaviors, particularly the use of psychoactive substances. In Abidjan, particularly in the neighborhoods of Port-Bouët II and Wassakara, hookah use is experiencing significant growth and is becoming part of young people’s everyday practices. This study aims to analyze the cultural, relational, and symbolic logics underlying shisha use, as well as the mechanisms of normalization of deviant practices that result from it. To this end, the research employs a qualitative approach based on direct observation, group interviews, and individual interviews. Based on a sample of 40 respondents, the results show, on the one hand, that hookah use serves as a means of social integration and identity formation, linked to a quest for recognition within the peer group. On the other hand, they reveal that this practice unfolds in socially constructed spaces where it becomes commonplace while simultaneously strengthening bonds of sociability, trust, and confidentiality. Finally, the study highlights that this normalisation contributes to obscuring the health and social risks involved, particularly exposure to other psychoactive substances and the development of behaviours that may encourage certain forms of deviant behaviour.