DRUGS PROJECT OFFERS SUPPORT TO MUSLIMS

A GROUND breaking project aims to shatter the taboo of drug addiction
in the Muslim community.

More than 50 Muslim women joined an event led by drug and alcohol
support charity Drugsline, where they met with volunteers and support
workers.

In a comfortable environment at the Eton Road Community Centre,
Ilford, the women talked openly about the impact of drugs and alcohol
use - a subject usually avoided among the Muslim community.

The event on Thursday, July 17, was organised following a Drugsline
research project which uncovered a gaping hole in support services
available to Muslim communities.

Researcher Namreen Chowdry said: "The research took us right into the
heart of the Muslim community, in an attempt to discover the specific
problem areas and understand where the stigma lies.

"It became apparent that the generation gap between parents and
children was impacting the way drug and alcohol issues were dealt with
and users and families alike didn't know where to turn for appropriate
support."

Drugsline has recruited 12 new volunteers who have completed training
programmes to help them offer specialist support in a range of Asian
languages to those affected by drugs. Volunteers visit schools and
work on helplines.

Drugsline volunteer Mahvish urged more Muslim women to speak out about
drugs, and not be afraid to take advantage of support services on offer.

She said: "Everyone at Drugsline works from the heart.

"It was difficult at first to accept that drug and alcohol addiction
was happening to our own people, but we are living where it exists and
we must face it to make things better for our children.

"We recognise the enormous courage it takes for a user to call us and
we will do all we can to support them."

Drugsline can be contacted free on 08081 606606 or by visiting
www.drugsline.org