fbpx
MAC
  • Search
  • Offcanvas Icon
    • About
      • Who We Are
      • Our Team
        • Executive Committee
        • Board of Directors
        • Leaders Spotlight
      • FAQ
      • Community Impact
    • Institutions
      • Schools
        • Full-Time Schools
          • Olive Grove School
          • Maple Grove School
          • Abrar School Ottawa
          • Al-Furqan Ottawa
          • Rahma School Ottawa
          • Al-Furqan Toronto
          • Al-Furqan Waterloo
          • Niagara Islamic School
          • MAC Calgary Islamic School
          • MAC Edmonton Islamic School
          • Albayan School Vancouver
        • Part-Time Schools
          • Al-Huda Schools
          • Al-Huda-Verdun Islamic School
          • Al-Huda School Winsdor
          • Al-Salam Academy Calgary
        • Quran Schools
          • Al-Otrojah for Quran Studies
          • Ecole Coranique Al-Bayane
          • Dar Al-Arqum
        • Pre-Schools & Daycare
          • MAC Islamic School Creative Minds Edmonton
          • OGS Preschool & Toddler Program
          • Maple Grove School
      • Centers & Masajid
        • Islamic Community Centre of Ontario – ICCO
        • Masjid Toronto Dundas
        • Kitchener Masjid Waterloo
        • Islamic Centre of Waterloo
        • MAC Youth Centre Ottawa
        • Al Rawdah Mosque
        • Centre Laurentien d’Aide A la Famille
        • Montreal: CIIC
        • MAC Information Centre
        • MAC Islamic Centre of Verdun
        • Rose City Islamic Centre
        • Cold Lake Mosque
        • MAC Islamic Centre (Rahma Mosque)
        • Montreal Centre Communautaire Villeray
        • Al-Salam Centre
        • MAC Vancouver Centre
        • MAC Hyde Park
        • MAC Westmount
        • MAC Noor Garderns
        • Masjid Aisha
        • Masjid Hespeler
      • Local Chapters
        • Mississauga
        • Toronto
        • London
        • Kitchener Waterloo
        • Hamilton
        • Ottawa
        • Montreal
        • Windsor
        • Calgary
        • Edmonton
        • Vancouver
    • Our Work
      • Youth
      • Projects and Campaigns
      • Events & Activities
    • News & Media
      • Statements
      • MAC in the News
      • Bulletin Board
      • Newsletter
    • ConnectHub
      • Connect Hub Resources
      • Positivity
      • Kids’ Corner
      • Islamic Resources
      • Health & Wellness
      • Family
      • Fun Learning
      • Nutrition & Fitness
      • Creativity
      • Business
    • Contact Us
      • Get in Touch
      • Media Inquiries
      • Contacts Directory
      • Volunteer
      • Careers
    • Donate
    • Search
MAC
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
      • Executive Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Leaders Spotlight
    • FAQ
    • Community Impact
  • Institutions
    • Schools
      • Full-Time Schools
        • Olive Grove School
        • Maple Grove School
        • Abrar School Ottawa
        • Al-Furqan Ottawa
        • Rahma School Ottawa
        • Al-Furqan Toronto
        • Al-Furqan Waterloo
        • Niagara Islamic School
        • MAC Calgary Islamic School
        • MAC Edmonton Islamic School
        • Albayan School Vancouver
      • Part-Time Schools
        • Al-Huda Schools
        • Al-Huda-Verdun Islamic School
        • Al-Huda School Winsdor
        • Al-Salam Academy Calgary
      • Quran Schools
        • Al-Otrojah for Quran Studies
        • Ecole Coranique Al-Bayane
        • Dar Al-Arqum
      • Pre-Schools & Daycare
        • MAC Islamic School Creative Minds Edmonton
        • OGS Preschool & Toddler Program
        • Maple Grove School
    • Centers & Masajid
      • Islamic Community Centre of Ontario – ICCO
      • Masjid Toronto Dundas
      • Kitchener Masjid Waterloo
      • Islamic Centre of Waterloo
      • MAC Youth Centre Ottawa
      • Al Rawdah Mosque
      • Centre Laurentien d’Aide A la Famille
      • Montreal: CIIC
      • MAC Information Centre
      • MAC Islamic Centre of Verdun
      • Rose City Islamic Centre
      • Cold Lake Mosque
      • MAC Islamic Centre (Rahma Mosque)
      • Montreal Centre Communautaire Villeray
      • Al-Salam Centre
      • MAC Vancouver Centre
      • MAC Hyde Park
      • MAC Westmount
      • MAC Noor Garderns
      • Masjid Aisha
      • Masjid Hespeler
    • Local Chapters
      • Mississauga
      • Toronto
      • London
      • Kitchener Waterloo
      • Hamilton
      • Ottawa
      • Montreal
      • Windsor
      • Calgary
      • Edmonton
      • Vancouver
  • Our Work
    • Youth
    • Projects and Campaigns
    • Events & Activities
  • News & Media
    • Statements
    • MAC in the News
    • Bulletin Board
    • Newsletter
  • ConnectHub
    • Connect Hub Resources
    • Positivity
    • Kids’ Corner
    • Islamic Resources
    • Health & Wellness
    • Family
    • Fun Learning
    • Nutrition & Fitness
    • Creativity
    • Business
  • Contact Us
    • Get in Touch
    • Media Inquiries
    • Contacts Directory
    • Volunteer
    • Careers
  • Donate
  • Search

Toronto doctor creates blueprint for reducing addiction stigma in the Muslim community

Mariam Manaa
January 17, 2021
In the News

Series of seminars held inside GTA mosques tackle misconceptions, religious issues

When Masjid Toronto first agreed to host seminars on addiction back in 2015, organizers weren’t sure anyone would show up.

“When we started off, there was skepticism,” said Mohsin Syed, then the assistant manager of the downtown Toronto mosque.

In fact, the subject was considered so delicate that participants were not told what the specific topic being discussed would be.

To Syed’s surprise, as the seminar series continued, the number of attendees grew and grew.

In fact, “we were … so packed in that basement that our air conditioning was not enough,” he told CBC Toronto.


Masjid Toronto was one of nine GTA mosques that hosted the seminar series, which aimed to tackle misconceptions and reduce stigma around addiction in Muslim communities.

“After each seminar, we would get a lineup of people asking for resources, or discussing their cousin, their family, their friends,” said Dr. Ahmed Hassan.

Hassan, an addiction psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, spearheaded the events and then wrote about them in a study published this month in the Community Mental Health Journal.

Dr. Ahmed Hassan, lead author on the study, says his goal was to discuss religion in a way that is “religiously and culturally adapted.” (Submitted by CAMH)


He lists several reasons why stigma around addiction can be prevalent in Muslim communities, including belief that addiction is sinful and shameful.

“We wanted to address the stigma through this psycho-educational program,” said Hassan of the 90-minute sessions.

“We would dig deep in the content, and integrate Islamic teachings.”

For Syed at Masjid Toronto, that integration of a religious lens was critical.

Mohsin Syed was the assistant manager at Masjid Toronto when the seminar series on addiction was held. (Submitted by Mohsin Syed)


“Because these acts are already a sin — people are very afraid to talk about it,” he explained.

By having religious leaders participate in the seminars, Syed said, it “created a sense of comfort for the community. This is not just coming from a medical doctor who wants to do a diagnosis.”

Study hopes to inspire more outreach

Religious teaching “agrees with science. And then [participants] see it more as a disease rather than a sin,” said Hassan.

According to his study, the approach was successful, resulting in a “significant reduction” of stigma.

Post-seminar, nearly half of participants said they were interested in learning more about addiction science, and two-thirds felt more motivated to help family and friends dealing with substance-use disorder.

Hassan hopes the study could open the door to more outreach inside of mosques, potentially tackling an even wider range of topics.

“Trauma, PTSD … I don’t think [those issues] have been openly discussed in the community,” said Hassan.

Previous Story
CBC Alberta News January 16, 2021- FoodShare Program
Next Story
COVID-19 : des leaders religieux affirment combattre la désinformation

Related Articles

Ali, Lawendy and Dwyer: Faith-based mental health supports for students need a boost

More and more during the pandemic, young people are turning...

Unique challenges faced by Black Muslim community warrant better understanding, attention

Black Muslims in Canada face combined oppressions of anti-Black racism...

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Recent Comments

  • Anzar Ahmad on Writing a Muslim-Canadian narrative is based on knowing your authentic identity
  • Ahmed on MAC Give Organizing Blood drive with Canadian Blood Services
  • Ahmad Ismail on Akram Raouf
  • Khunsa A on Artwork by Sajida Fazal-Chagpar
  • Noor on It’s Ok to let boys be Aggressive: It May have Flattened the Curve | Article by Dr. Asma Ahmadi

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • January 2019

Categories

  • Articles
  • Artwork
  • Bulletin Board
  • Connect Hub
  • Cooking
  • Eid
  • Expressions Corner
  • Humans of COVID19
  • In the News
  • Local ePrograms
  • MAC E-Learning
  • National Campaigns
  • National ePrograms
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Official Statements
  • Photography
  • Poetry
  • Ramadan Highlights
  • Ramadan Learning & Activities
  • Reflections
  • Relief
  • Short Stories
  • Spotlight
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • EN
  • FR

Quick Links

  • About Mac
  • Donate
  • Sign Up
  • Contacts Directory
  • Media Inquiries
  • Careers @ MAC (FR)

Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)Follow

Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
MACNational
4h

Today on International Women’s Day we celebrate achievements of women. We are proud to have strong Muslim women, driven by their faith, who work tirelessly to make an everlasting difference in education and activism in our communities. Read @NimaoAli oped
http://tinyurl.com/nimao-iwd

Reply on Twitter 1369133864321486848Retweet on Twitter 13691338643214868481Like on Twitter 13691338643214868484
Retweet on TwitterMuslim Association of Canada (MAC) Retweeted
MACNational
23 Feb

Canada is a country that stands for human rights around the world. We commend @CPC_HQ Leader @erinotoole and all MP’s of the legislature that voted in favour of passing the motion to recognize China's genocide of Uighur Muslims.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/uighur-genocide-motion-vote-1.5922711

Reply on Twitter 1364321726822309891Retweet on Twitter 136432172682230989136Like on Twitter 136432172682230989196
MACNational
23 Feb

Canada is a country that stands for human rights around the world. We commend @CPC_HQ Leader @erinotoole and all MP’s of the legislature that voted in favour of passing the motion to recognize China's genocide of Uighur Muslims.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/uighur-genocide-motion-vote-1.5922711

Reply on Twitter 1364321726822309891Retweet on Twitter 136432172682230989136Like on Twitter 136432172682230989196

Follow Us

Copyright ©2019 Muslim Association of Canada. All Rights Reserved
SearchPostsLoginCart
Friday, 20, Mar
MAC Give Food Share Campaign
Tuesday, 17, Mar
MAC Give Organizing Blood drive with Canadian Blood Services
Monday, 8, Mar
MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Friday, 26, Feb
Ali, Lawendy and Dwyer: Faith-based mental health supports for students need a boost
Wednesday, 17, Feb
Response to a Smear Campaign in Relation to Action Against Employees Breaching Contractual Agreements
Friday, 12, Feb
Unique challenges faced by Black Muslim community warrant better understanding, attention
Friday, 5, Feb
Ibrahim Arid
Wednesday, 3, Feb
MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Welcome back,