Dr. Joshua Salaam '20 and Dr. Bilal Ansari Speak on Islamophobia and Substance Use

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, alum Dr. Joshua Salaam ‘20, Chaplain and Director of Muslim Life at Duke University, and Dr. Bilal Ansari, Director of HIU’s Islamic Chaplaincy Program, presented and responded at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. on “The Impacts of Islamophobia and Substance Use Disorder on Muslim Communities.”

The initiative was organized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (Partnership Center). It aimed to explore the most effective ways to address the impact of trauma experienced by communities affected by acts of hate and violence, with a focus on substance use disorder (SUD).

The speakers included Muslim scholars, directors of organizations, psychiatrists, imams, chaplains, doctors, psychologists, and social workers.  

Dr. Salaam spoke on “Understanding the Experience of Islamophobia and Substance Use Disorders in Muslim Communities.”

Dr. Ansari was in the reactor panel of presentations made on the following questions: How can we effectively incorporate cultural and religious sensitivities when developing strategies to address the effects of Islamophobia on substance use disorders (SUDs) within Muslim communities? What are the unique challenges faced by Muslim communities in accessing mental health and substance use disorder services, and how can these barriers be overcome?

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