Addiction is a rarely-discussed psychosocial and spiritual issue impacting individuals and families worldwide, with negative ramifications on whole families and communities. It is a crisis affecting the ummah globally, regardless of cultural background. And with the increasingly wide availability of intoxicants and the array of dopamine-maximising ills this modern age of indulgence brings to our doorstep, this crisis only continues to deepen further.

Addiction is defined as a strong physical or psychological drive to do or use something, without having control over it, often leading to dependence on a particular activity or substance with little regard for the harm it causes. It is commonly associated with drugs, alcohol, gambling and pornography, however, it is possible to become addicted to many other things as well, such as prescription painkillers, as many opioids are also highly addictive.

Unfortunately, the issue of addictions becomes magnified when these vulnerabilities are exploited by multi-million dollar industries that promote alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography, opioids, etc, and dealing with the issue given this context seems like a constant uphill struggle.

In more recent years, our understanding of addiction has encompassed a more holistic faith-based view, with contemporary scholars reframing the issue based on whether or not a person living with addiction has autonomy.

There is more of a realisation now that once a person becomes addicted and is unable to exercise self-control, they should be treated with compassion. 

They require relevant support and care from both healthcare services and the community, a consideration sadly but commonly dismissed in Muslim communities, where individuals with addictions are more likely to be neglected and ostracised instead of receiving the help they so desperately need.

Is Addiction a Thing in the Muslim Community?

It is a misconception that addictions aren’t a concern in Muslim communities because of the taboo around these topics. More specifically, there is silence and widespread denial of the fact that Muslims in Britain, as well as globally, are more commonly turning to vices such as drugs and pornography. There are a plethora of reasons for this, partially because drug use is becoming normalised amongst young Muslims but also because some people use such vices as coping mechanisms.

A survey by the Muslim Census concluded that 83% of British Muslims surveyed reported having consumed pornography at some point in their lives, with Muslim men being four times more likely to experience addiction compared to Muslim women.

According to government statistics, there were 290,635 adults in contact with UK drug and alcohol services in March 2023. Nearly half of all adults (48%) were in treatment for problems with opiates. People in treatment for alcohol alone make up the next largest group (30%) of all adults in treatment. Statistics around addictions in the British Muslim community are not recorded as accurately as with other communities due to several reasons—Muslims are least likely to seek and access support with addiction due to the stigma attached, but also official statistics are recorded more commonly by ethnicity, ie, South Asian, rather than specifying faith background.

Why Are Diaspora Muslim Communities More at Risk of Addiction?

Research suggests that Muslims who are immigrants or second-generation may be at higher risk due to difficulties around acculturation, identity conflicts, and social isolation. 

Acculturation stress

This is a significant factor, where Muslims learning to adjust to new cultures within the host society struggle to maintain a balance between their cultural and religious identity and the pressures of assimilating into a new society. This identity conflict can lead to emotional distress, and substance abuse is a common coping mechanism some will turn to. 

Discriminatory government policies 

Policies affecting refugee and asylum-seeking migrant communities from Muslim-majority countries can often create barriers to integration, exacerbate vulnerability, and perpetuate marginalisation. Additionally, the existence of discriminatory policies such as Prevent, which disproportionately targets Muslim communities, can contribute to further polarisation—all of which can be risk factors for compulsive and addictive behaviours. Just the stress of feeling discriminated against can increase the likelihood that someone will misuse substances as a coping mechanism.

Social isolation

Diaspora Muslims may experience exacerbated loneliness or alienation if they have been separated from their country of origin or their usual support networks. This can make them more susceptible to seeking comfort in addictive behaviours.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry highlights that Muslim individuals with a migration background often face barriers to effective substance use prevention and treatment, including social exclusion and structural inequities. These challenges can lead to higher unemployment rates, limited educational opportunities, and experiences of stigma and discrimination, which may contribute to substance use as a coping mechanism. 

The same study highlights that the process of developing a strong ethnic and national identity can serve as a strength; a psychological tool which can help Muslims mitigate the negative effects of identity conflict. However, in situations where adequate support networks are not in place, the stress from navigating multiple identities can lead to mental health challenges and substance use. 

Mental health challenges

Depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other emotional and psychological issues—which are often linked to migration, Islamophobia, discrimination or even familial or societal pressures and socio-economic challenges are commonly experienced in Muslim populations and can contribute to/worsen addiction or result in compulsive behaviours. It is important to note that people with addiction often have other mental health conditions and vice versa. 

A 2022 initiative by Cardiff University highlighted that Muslims in Britain experience mental health issues at higher rates than other faith groups but are less likely to access formal support due to barriers such as stigma and a lack of culturally sensitive services.

Socio-economic challenges

The prevalence and negative consequences of alcohol and drug use are generally greater among groups characterised by disenfranchised social status (e.g., poverty, stigmatised identity.

Peer pressure

Young Muslims, particularly in Britain and across the Global North, may encounter environments where drug and alcohol use is normalised and other addictive behaviours are socially acceptable, which increases their risk of experimentation. 

A 2020 study on addiction trends among ethnic minorities in the UK found that young Muslims are increasingly exposed to drugs and alcohol, with some engaging in substance use in secrecy due to cultural and religious taboos.

Why Aren’t Muslims Receiving the Help They Need With Addictions?

Denial & fear

One of the biggest barriers to Muslims accessing and receiving the help they need with addictions is the denial within the Muslim community of the problem. Many individuals do not seek help if they are led to believe by others around them that the problem is either non-existent, will just go away on its own or can be ‘prayed away’.

Another barrier to access is fear of the legal implications of admitting to partaking in certain activities.

Stigma

The perceived embarrassment or shame around the sinful nature surrounding most vices that lead to addictions is a common reason why families and communities will be reluctant to seek help for loved ones and a common reason also for why individuals may be discouraged from accessing support. 

The stigma around women and addictions is even more compounded due to gender norms and expectations within the Muslim community of how women should behave.

Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2024 explored the perceptions of British South Asian and Muslim individuals regarding addiction and traditional drug and alcohol treatment services. The British South Asian community is defined as people who live in the UK and descend from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, with this ethnic group and the Muslim religion group being the focus of this study.

The study found that limited discussions and misconceptions about substance use led to stigma, preventing individuals and their families from seeking support. 

Lack of trust in the system

In cases where the issue of addictions has been acknowledged and addressed, a lack of trust in the treatment system is common. Many worry about breaches of confidentiality and privacy, something of great concern especially in cases where individuals and families have intentionally kept the addiction a secret from their family or local community.

Lack of faith and culturally sensitive service provision

The lack of faith and culturally sensitive service provision in the UK further compounds barriers to accessing support. Mainstream drug and alcohol treatment services in the UK often do not align with the cultural and religious values of Muslims, and this can make it challenging for them to engage with these services. This misalignment can result in prolonged substance use issues.

In 2021-2022, more than 50% of all people completed a course of Talking Therapy treatment in England, however only 2.6% of Muslims referred to NHS Talking Therapies completed their treatment course. 90% of service users prioritise faith and cultural sensitivity in their mental health support, and 44% of Muslims feel that faith-related issues are not adequately addressed through mainstream counselling.

How Can We Help?

Islamic Viewpoint on Addiction and Recovery

As Muslims, we firstly acknowledge our underlying belief system, which prohibits harmful substances and activities, whilst also recognising the roles of the spirit (ruh), the ego (nafs) and the thoughts that arise from it, Satanic thoughts (shayatin) and angelic thoughts (mala’ika). Therefore our understanding of addictions and other mental illnesses is rooted in this contextual understanding of how we were created and how we behave as holistic beings.

When we view addiction through the lens of spirituality, we realise that it isn’t purely a psychosocial affliction but can be a manifestation of a deeper spiritual imbalance which leaves a person vulnerable to addictive behaviours. Reducing addiction to a simple worldly issue can be problematic since the treatment methods sought will then also be restricted to temporal solutions.

Research carried out on Muslim populations shows that religiosity and spirituality benefit the mental health of Muslim adherents, and Muslims recovering from substance abuse found that rediscovery of their faith has often acted as the much-needed catalyst to abstain from drug use. 

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751/1350) appears to be one of the first scholars to have written about the topic of addiction, describing the psychological effects of addiction and the notion of ‘loss of control.’ He is also the first to explicitly define the possibility of addiction to behaviour in addition to substances. In his work, he provides psychospiritual recommendations that can be used in the rehabilitation of addicts. 

His approach to addiction recovery emphasises a holistic spiritual path of faith-based practices for healing, resilience and transformation, with the individual utilising a combined toolkit of prayer, inward reflection and community support on their journey to recovery. 

Practical Ways to Support Muslims Battling Addiction as a Community

There is much we can do on both an individual and communal level to help address the issue:

Break Down the Stigma

Normalise and encourage conversations around addictions and addictive behaviours and how to address them. Create a culture of compassion where non-judgemental help and advice can be sought from within the community. Encourage dialogue to help educate the community about the realities of substance abuse and addictions from an Islamic perspective as well as from secular approaches.

Create Environments of Trust

Building and investing in spaces of trust and compassion is a vital step toward helping those struggling with addiction who may feel they have nowhere to turn. Where individuals feel unable to approach family for the support they need, safe community spaces can instead provide welcome respite and become an anchoring support for them. Mosques and Islamic centres often possess the physical spaces for this to happen, but more needs to be done to invest in building holistic advocacy systems.

Youth Engagement

Provide young Muslims with safe social spaces, mentorship programs, and halal alternatives to mainstream entertainment, which can effectively reduce risk-taking behaviours.

Mental Health Awareness

Educate and raise awareness around the reality of addiction being a psychospiritual issue and the psychological effects of addiction. Encourage professional counselling and therapeutic support in addition to spiritual guidance. If you or a loved one are seeking support, explore our guide on Muslim Mental Health: The Services and Organisations You Can Contact to find professional resources. Our article “How to Find the Right Therapist: An Essential Guide” offers practical advice on choosing the right support for your journey.

Collaboration with Addiction Outreach Services

To elevate the limited awareness amongst Muslim communities, there is a need for collaborative projects and improved communication channels between Imams, mosque committees and recovery-based outreach services. Implementing cultural and religious interventions may reduce barriers to accessing support and address the stigma in the community.

Family Education and Support

Families should receive guidance and training on how to offer non-judgmental support and guide their loved ones toward treatment options. This includes signposting to relevant support services.

There is much work to be done in our communities, and more concerted efforts need to be made to support those struggling with addiction. Our approach must be one of compassion and mercy as taught by our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Narrated Abu Hurairah,

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever relieves a Muslim of a burden from the burdens of the world, Allah will relieve him of a burden from the burdens of the Hereafter. And whoever covers (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will cover (his faults) for him in the world and the Hereafter. And Allah is engaged in helping the worshipper as long as the worshipper is engaged in helping his brother.” (Tirmidhi)

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Reference

• Cerdá et al., 2010; Chartier and Caetano, 2010; Glass et al., 2020; Grant et al., 2015; Green and Feinstein, 2012; Reilly et al., 2019; USDHHS, 2016). 

• Lynne Ali-Northcott. “Substance Abuse.” In Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions. Edited by Sameera Ahmed and Mona M. Amer. New York: Routledge, 2012, pp. 355–82.