Gatekeeper Perspectives on Substance Misuse Among a Muslim Community in Southwestern Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted during 2018 with 20 community leaders and professionals from within one Muslim community in Canada: Imams, physicians, police officers, social workers, and teachers, who serve as gatekeepers to treatment for Muslims who are seeking support for addiction. Major themes revealed were i) The Impact of Islam on responses to psychoactive substance use and misuse, ii) The influence of family and community on responses to psychoactive drug use and misuse, and iii) Barriers Muslims face in seeking help for substance misuse. The influence of faith was identified as a source of both protection and burden due to different interpretations of Islam and negative cultural beliefs which fuel stigma and shame. The greatest protective factors were also often the reasons preventing individuals from seeking treatment. Recommendations for future action to address this community issue are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol
• Canada
• drugs
• harm reduction
• Islam
• Muslim
• substance misuse

Disclosure statement

In accordance with Taylor & Francis policy and our ethical obligation as a researchers, we are reporting that this research was funded by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), a professional body in which we are both members. OASW did not influence, review, nor edit this manuscript in any manner and its contents are the sole responsibility of the authors.

Notes

¹ A computerized literature search using a keyword approach was utilized to identify appropriate sources in the following electronic databases: Google Scholar, JSTOR, ProQuest, SAGE, Scholars Portal, and Social Work abstracts. Keywords used both individually and in combination to guide the search process were: ‘alcohol’, ‘drugs’, ‘harm reduction’, ‘Islam’, ‘Muslim,’ and ‘substance.’ Though the search period spanned ten years, from 2008–2018, few relevant resources were found.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) 2018 Accelerator Research Grant.