Imams 'tackling drug addictions'

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by Change | 21 Apr 2009

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Youth workers in Glasgow are using imams to help tackle the problem of drug addiction in young Muslim people across the city.

Young Muslims in Glasgow are being offered support and advice on drugs from local imams in a bid to cut the number of people suffering from addiction, it has been reported.

According to the BBC, a growing number of youth workers are drafting in imams to help them deal with young Muslims who are suffering from drug problems as part of their addiction treatment.

"Something that took the white Scottish community 30 years to escalate to, in terms of gangs and addiction, is maybe taking these Asian young people three years - and that's very concerning," Umar Ansari, of the Youth Community Support Agency (YCSA), told the news provider.

As a result, local religious figures are being used as a way to reach out to young Muslims because many of those who have got into drugs still have great respect for their religious leaders and are more likely to listen to the imams than the youth workers.

It is hoped the scheme could help to stem the rapid growth of drugs in Glasgow and ensure those that have problems related to substance abuse receive the treatment they need.

Recent figures published by the Scottish Executive revealed drug and alcohol abuse costs the country's economy £5 billion per year.

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