Check Out These Resources for Muslims Struggling With Addiction
July is Minority Mental Health Month! This is the perfect time to talk about Islamic approaches to addiction and substance use disorders. With the growing drug epidemic, it is clear that all communities are affected. Even though our tradition prohibits drug use, the Muslim community is not immune to consumption. I have had conversations with various people who agree that it is an obligation upon our community to help address the problem. Here are a few resources to look into if you or a loved one is impacted by addiction.
Self-Help Groups
Millati Islami
Millati Islami is well-known for being an Islamic 12-step program to combat addiction. They have resources such as literature, meetings, and an active fellowship. The option of attending online sessions makes them accessible regardless of where you are located.
Treatment Centers
Tranquility Rehab
Tranquility Rehab is the first residential treatment center for Muslims in the United States. Located in a beautiful house in Hayward, California, it combines state-of-the-art treatment approaches backed by Islamic scholars. They have both a detox center and a residential treatment component. They accept insurance and private pay.
Madina House
Madina House is a series of halfway houses in Chicago, IL, and Richmond, CA where people who want to live in a sober environment can rent accommodations. They provide family support, and their team includes Islamic psychologists, medical doctors, and other trained professionals.
Zulu Islamic Treatment Institute
Zulu Islamic Treatment Institute is a substance abuse treatment provider in Minneapolis, MN. They provide treatment for non-substance-related addiction disorder, gambling addiction disorder, and internet use disorder. They serve DUI/DWI clients only. Zulu Islamic Treatment Institute accepts young adults and adults (ages 18 and up) and treats both men and women.
Published Work
Articles
A series of good articles on addiction and the Muslim community have been published in the last few years. An informative article written by Dalia Mogahed explores statistical data on substance abuse and addiction within Muslim communities. The article also examines pathways for addicts to find support.
Books
The Tayba Foundation published Overcoming Addiction: An Islamic Approach to Recovery: 12 Steps for the Muslim & The Muslim Addiction Recovery Program. It includes an Islamic approach to the 12-Step Model and other approaches to addiction that are derived wholly from an Islamic perspective. One of the best things about this book is that scholars have vetted it, and it is considered Islamically sound.
Lastly, check out Loving the Present: Sufism, Mindfulness, and Recovery from Addiction and Mental Illness, written about twenty years ago by the author of this article. It includes context surrounding the problem of mental illness and addiction, known as co-occurring disorders. The book focuses on the 12-Step Model from the perspective of mindfulness and Sufism and offers personal and spiritual insights into recovery.
