Jews and Muslims In Drugs Project

January 10, 2007

Author: Marc Shoffman

Source: TotallyJewish.com

http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=5292

Orthodox Jews in Redbridge are teaming up with the local Muslim community to provide an interfaith drug support line, after being given a £115,000 Council grant.

The initiative is the brainchild of Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, Director of the Drugsline charity, who recognised that different religious minorities share similar taboos about drugs.

The scheme is being run in conjunction with Imam Haroon Rashid Patel of the Balfour Road Mosque, the QALB - a day centre for Asians and Africans with mental health issues and the League of British Muslims.

The funding will enable Drugsline, which was set up by Chabad, to provide services in Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu. The scheme will also refer callers to culturally and faith sensitive drug programmes.