Among Muslims, more than one in three people say they know a person who has or is struggling with addiction.1 Sadly, stigma surrounding substance use in the Muslim community can be a big barrier towards recovery.
This Ramadan, you or someone you know may be looking to cope with their addiction. Here are 4 helpful strategies to move closer towards recovery during this blessed month.
1. Give Yourself A Head Start Before Ramadan
Abstaining from food and drink in Ramadan can impact your thoughts, feelings, and mood throughout the day. If you decide to stop using during fasting hours, these feelings can be accompanied by withdrawal symptoms, making it difficult to stay sober. Here are some things to consider:
It can be especially helpful to meet with an addictions counselor to address your symptoms. He/she can help you recognize and manage predictable withdrawal symptoms if you decide to reduce or stop using substances during Ramadan. Finding a mental health professional with substance use training can take up to a month or two, so start early to ensure that you have support during Ramadan.
2. Set Up A Healthy Support System
Ramadan is a time when people look forward to coming together, but the fear of being judged by others can keep you feeling lonely and isolated. This Ramadan, tap into a circle of support that will be there for you on the journey towards recovery.
Maybe being around certain people in your life can be a trigger for your use. If so, have a plan to minimize time spent around those individuals during Ramadan. If you don’t have someone to lean on, try joining a support group like Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Support groups can be a great way to receive support, encouragement, and comfort while learning new coping skills.
3. Set Realistic Ramadan Goals
When Islam came to the people of Mecca who drank alcohol plentifully, it did not start with abstinence. Instead, alcohol was forbidden in a series of three phases over the span of 17 years! [5] No matter how motivated you may be feeling about your recovery this Ramadan, abruptly stopping substance use may not be the best first step for you. Depending on the severity of your addiction, a cold-turkey approach can be more harmful and lead back to addiction.
To set safe and realistic goals for Ramadan, it’s important to work with someone who is trained to support you on the recovery journey.
While the benefits and blessings of Ramadan are incredible, realize that recovery may take months, years, and even decades – depending on the severity of the addiction. Ramadan might not be the month of complete recovery, but it can be a stepping stone towards leading a healthier lifestyle.
4. Apply Healthy Coping Behaviors
Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to substitute unhealthy coping mechanisms (i.e., using substances), with healthy coping behaviors. Here are some ideas:
5. Stay Hopeful When Dealing With Relapses
Recovery is a process – and it often includes relapses. But relapsing during a day of Ramadan while fasting can be harder than relapsing on any other day in the year. You may feel more shame for not only falling back into the addictive behavior, but for also breaking your fast. You may have negative feelings about yourself or question your sincerity as a Muslim because of your struggle with addiction.
Lastly, do a good deed immediately after relapsing. If you broke your fast, talk to a religious scholar to understand what you need to do to make up for breaking the fast. If you relapsed outside of fasting hours, donate to charity or pray a Sunnah (additional) prayer. Realize that how you deal with relapse is key to your recovery. If you deal with relapses in a constructive way, those small bumps in the road will only make you stronger and closer to recovery. Know that the process of overcoming our desires is a shared struggle for all Muslims, and this process is lifelong. As you cope with your addiction, remember that Allah (SWT) is All-Merciful; He knows that we are imperfect and runs to us when we walk to Him. This Ramadan, use these strategies to make strides towards your recovery. And know that there is reward in every step you take on this journey.
This article was written by Hanan Hashem, M.A. Ph.D. Candidate, Mariam Rasheed, LMSW, and Issra Killawi, B.A. It was reviewed by Madiha Tahseen, PhD.
References:
1. https://www.ispu.org/substance-abuse-and-addiction-in-the-muslim-community/
2. Abu-Ras, W., Ahmed, S., & Arfken, C. L. (2010). Alcohol use among US Muslim college students: Risk and protective factors. Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 9(3), 206-220
3. Verdurmen, J. E. E., Smit, F., Toet, J., van Driel, H. F., & van Ameijden, E. J. C. (2004). Under-utilization of addiction treatment services by heroin users from ethnic minorities: Results from a cohort study over four years. Addiction research & theory, 12, 285-209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1606635042000210347
4. American Psychological Association. (2008, June). Genes matter in addiction. Monitor on Psychology. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/06/genes-addict
5. Ali, M. (2014). Perspectives on drug addiction in Islamic history and theology. Religions, 5(3), 912-928.
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