British South Asian and Muslim Community’s Perceptions and Experiences of Addiction and Traditional Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services

Zeibeda Sattar (), Lydia Lochhead, Hayley Alderson, Monique Lhussier, Ruth McGovern and William McGovern
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Zeibeda Sattar: Department of Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Social Work, Northumbria University, Coach Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK
Lydia Lochhead: Department of Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Social Work, Northumbria University, Coach Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK
Hayley Alderson: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
Monique Lhussier: Department of Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Social Work, Northumbria University, Coach Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK
Ruth McGovern: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
William McGovern: Department of Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Social Work, Northumbria University, Coach Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: Within traditional drug and alcohol (D&A) treatment services, the majority of those accessing support are of white ethnicity, with only a small percentage of people from the British South Asian (BSA) and Muslim community engaging in treatment services. This paper aims to explore perceived barriers to accessing traditional D&A services within the British South Asian and Muslim communities, based on qualitative data from interviews with family members and a practitioner. Qualitative data were obtained via 11 semi-structured interviews involving a practitioner (n = 1), and family and friends (n = 10) of those with historic and current D&A use in the community. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four themes: (1) awareness of drug and alcohol use in the community, (2) drug and alcohol use as a taboo topic and the impact of admitting use, (3) knowledge of services for treatment, (4) how to increase awareness and accessibility of treatment. There was an increasing awareness of D&A use in the BSA and Muslim community. Despite this, limited conversations and misconceptions around D&A use and recovery led to those using D&A and their family members feeling stigmatised within their community and unable to seek support. This paper concludes by recommending increased communication between the BSA and Muslim communities and D&A treatment services to ensure accessibility of treatment by improving cultural competency.

Keywords: cultural competency; South Asian; Muslim; stigma; barriers; drug and alcohol; treatment services; recovery; substance use; accessibility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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