{"id":20547,"date":"2026-01-04T11:40:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T10:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=20547"},"modified":"2026-03-10T21:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T20:13:10","slug":"imams-join-fight-against-drug-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2026\/01\/imams-join-fight-against-drug-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Imams join fight against drug abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header ab\">\n<div class=\"entry-meta below-post\">\n<div>\n<header id=\"masthead\" class=\"site-header\" role=\"banner\">\n<div class=\"header-wrap\">\n<div class=\"top-header\">\n<div class=\"logo-bar\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div id=\"site-branding\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"weather-pj\">\n<div class=\"top-bar-date\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"sticky-header-box\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"main-header clearfix\">\n<nav id=\"site-navigation\" class=\"main-navigation clearfix\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Main Menu\"><a class=\"custom-logo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greaterkashmir.com\/\" rel=\"home\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"custom-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/greaterkashmir.imagibyte.sortdcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-cropped-gk-b-logo-2.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1624px) 100vw, 1624px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greaterkashmir.imagibyte.sortdcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-cropped-gk-b-logo-2.png 1624w, https:\/\/greaterkashmir.imagibyte.sortdcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-cropped-gk-b-logo-2-150x27.png?type=webp&amp;quality=80&amp;size=200 200w, https:\/\/greaterkashmir.imagibyte.sortdcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-cropped-gk-b-logo-2-150x27.png?type=webp&amp;quality=80&amp;size=400 400w, https:\/\/greaterkashmir.imagibyte.sortdcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-cropped-gk-b-logo-2-150x27.png?type=webp&amp;quality=80&amp;size=800 800w\" alt=\"Greater Kashmir\" width=\"331\" height=\"60\" \/><\/a><\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"site-content-contain\" class=\"site-content-contain\">\n<div id=\"content\" class=\"site-content\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-9\">\n<div id=\"moola_body_incontent_728x90_dk\">\n<div id=\"in-content-1767522847971-hc02ypaa4\">\n<div id=\"f2d3c-2cfe-be88-189018e0-87\">\n<div id=\"2bb8e-dc00-b898-69c17a36-74\">\n<div id=\"8e590-7339-a64b-f6692b16-ba\">Released <span class=\"posted-on\"><a title=\"January 3, 2026\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greaterkashmir.com\/front-page-2\/imams-join-fight-against-drug-abuse\/\">January 3, 2026<\/a><\/span>\u00a011:54 pm<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"social-sharing\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Interacting with administration, experts to help overcome youth drug demand<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Srinagar, Jan 3: Leaving the pulpits of their Masjids for the meeting hall of the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, Imams from across Kashmir gathered on Saturday to take on another religious responsibility of saving the youth from the grip of drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The resolve of the gathering was to reduce demand for drugs, while strengthening channels where those who are already in the deadly trap could be helped free from it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">A day-long brainstorming session was organised at the IMHANS, GMC Srinagar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">It aimed to equip religious leaders with the skills and information to speak about substance abuse and reach young people vulnerable to addiction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The initiative was organised to empower the religious leaders with medical knowledge and Islamic insights to create an environment for the prevention of substance abuse. The event included sessions on early detection and referral of individuals struggling with addiction, ultimately towards the goal of reducing drug demand among youth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The event saw the participation of religious scholars, medical experts, and officials from the administration, joining hands to create a bridge between spiritual guidance and professional treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The pivotal role of Imams as trusted figures in local communities was highlighted and explored.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">An interactive session on \u2018Imams as First Responders\u2019 moderated by Dr Fazle Roub, Assistant Professor Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar, opened pathways to youth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The discussion covered how community members often turn to Imams first for help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The participants spoke about their understanding and scientific view on dos and don\u2019ts while providing assistance. It weighed various approaches to encourage youth to seek help at de-addiction centres while maintaining confidentiality and reducing stigma.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The participants discussed the Quranic guidance and Islamic perspective on addiction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Masjids and Friday sermons, the participants agreed, could help in breaking through the shells that people with addiction disorders often retreat into.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">\u201cReligious scholars are key to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging early help-seeking,\u201d said Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, who was the chief guest on the occasion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">He reiterated the administration\u2019s endeavour to a multi-sectoral strategy involving health services, civil society, and religious institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Guest of honour, Akshay Labroo, echoed these sentiments and stressed the need for coordinated action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">He said that Imams with the tools to address addiction compassionately could strengthen community-based responses and protect youth from this growing menace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Principal GMC Srinagar Prof Iffat Hassan Shah underscored the importance of Imams in prevention efforts, early intervention, and reducing societal stigma around addiction. Head of the Department of Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar, Prof Arshad Hussain, delved deep into the escalating burden of substance use disorders while emphasising early intervention and broad community involvement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Dr Sajjid Wani, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar, talked about \u2018medical understanding of addiction\u2019 and explained addiction as a disease rather than a moral failing. He detailed common substances abused in Kashmir, warning signs for families and brain changes that undermine willpower.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Source: https:\/\/www.greaterkashmir.com\/front-page-2\/imams-join-fight-against-drug-abuse\/<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Released January 3, 2026\u00a011:54 pm Interacting with administration, experts to help overcome youth drug demand Srinagar, Jan 3: Leaving the pulpits of their Masjids for the meeting hall of the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, Imams from across Kashmir gathered on Saturday to take on another religious [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,144,129,68,62,20,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-addiction","category-age-related","category-culture","category-drug-use-various-effects","category-education","category-others","category-prevention-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20547"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20562,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20547\/revisions\/20562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}