National Day of Action Against Addiction

Last year, we approached the Rochdale Council of Mosques with an idea. Could Rochdale’s mosques come together on the National Day of Action Against Addiction to deliver a coordinated Friday sermon on addiction — supported by local recovery organisations on site?

Tomorrow, on the first Friday of Ramadan, that shared vision becomes reality.

In collaboration with the Rochdale Council of Mosques, seven mosques across the borough will deliver a unified khutbah addressing addiction. Recovery organisations and community partners will also be present, offering information, guidance and clear pathways to support.

This initiative reflects genuine partnership — faith leadership and community organisations working side by side.

Our Aim: Break the Silence and Start the Conversation

The aim of this initiative is clear:

To get our communities talking about addiction openly and honestly.

For far too long, addiction has been an open secret in many South Asian communities. It is often known within extended family networks but rarely discussed publicly. Concerns around honour, reputation and stigma can lead families to manage the issue alone, behind closed doors.

When families feel they must “contain” the problem themselves, urgent care is often delayed. Professional support is either accessed late or not at all. In some cases, individuals begin treatment but disengage because of fear, shame or lack of culturally sensitive understanding.

The result is avoidable harm.

We must confront this head on — without judgement, without denial, and without stigma.

Faith Leadership and Professional Expertise

Imams are respected and important figures in our communities. Their role is to guide congregations in matters of faith, preserve Islamic tradition and support the spiritual wellbeing of current and future generations.

They are not, however, professional counsellors or addiction specialists.

They recognise this.

And that recognition is important.

Addiction is a complex health issue. It requires clinical expertise, trauma-informed support, safeguarding knowledge and structured recovery pathways. Spiritual guidance can provide strength and meaning — but it cannot replace professional intervention where it is needed.

That is why this initiative is not just about sermons.

It is about signposting. It is about collaboration. It is about faith spaces and professional services working together — clearly and consistently.

Strengthening Pathways to Support

South Asian communities are statistically less likely to access formal addiction support and, where they do, are more likely to drop out prematurely. Cultural stigma, fear of exposure and concerns around family reputation can create additional barriers.

By bringing recovery organisations into mosque spaces, we are reducing that distance.

We are saying: Support is here. Seeking help is responsible. You do not have to carry this alone.

Rochdale has a strong and dedicated recovery community who work tirelessly to support individuals and families affected by addiction. We know this not only through partnership, but through lived experience — as people who have accessed services in the past and witnessed first hand the dedication of local professionals and peer support networks.

The goal is alignment: faith leaders encouraging openness, and professional services providing structured care.

Why the First Friday of Ramadan Matters

Ramadan is a month of reflection, discipline and renewal.

It is a time when individuals strive to improve, to let go of harmful patterns and to move closer to what strengthens them. It is rooted in accountability, mercy and growth.

Addiction is about struggle. Ramadan is about striving.

Delivering this message on the first Friday of Ramadan anchors the conversation in hope. It frames recovery not as shameful, but as a courageous step towards change.

A Community Moving Forward Together

This National Day of Action Against Addiction is about cooperation, not competition. It is about faith leadership and community organisations standing together with recovery services to create consistent, culturally informed messaging.

The aim is simple but powerful:

Break the silence. Reduce the stigma. Encourage early access to professional support.

Because when communities talk openly, when imams signpost clearly, and when professional services are visible and accessible, lives can change.

Tomorrow is not the end of a conversation.

It is the beginning of a more honest, aligned and hopeful way forward for Rochdale.