Addiction group working to beat cultural stigma

Raja Alyas said attitudes within South Asian communities were changing

A drug and alcohol rehabilitation group has welcomed an increase in people from harder-to-reach communities using its services.

Peterborough-based Aspire has expanded its work with religious groups, community centres and local radio station Salaam Radio to beat "cultural stigma" surrounding drug and alcohol use within South Asian communities.

The group's Raja Alyas said a clinic was held regularly at Thislemoor Medical Centre to give people facing stigma a "discreet option" to seek help.

"We have a community outreach worker, and with the ongoing work to raise awareness there is a positive shift in attitudes, and referrals have gone up – particularly from women," Mr Alyas said.

Dr Shabina Qayyum has called for cultural barriers to be broken down

Aspire works with Peterborough City Council, GPs and the Probation Service.

Mr Alyas said there was still "taboo and denial" within South Asian communities, but younger generations had "been more accepting and aware of help around".

The charity launched the initiative five years ago but "people faced trust issues", Mr Alyas said.

"We relaunched last year to a more positive response. It's a treatment-focused engagement, and conversations are held within settings a community feels comfortable in.

"Referrals – particularly from women – have increased. This was unheard of previously.

"There is work to be done, but the trend is definitely positive."

'Normalise addiction conversations'

Dr Shabina Qayyum is a GP and Peterborough City Council cabinet member for adults and health.

She also hosts a health show on Salaam Radio, and has been working with Mr Alyas's team to raise awareness of Aspire.

Dr Qayyum has called for conversations about addiction to be "open, honest and normalised".

She said: "The barriers I have seen are lack of acceptability and it comes from fear... due to cultural sensitivity," she said.