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Drugsline welcomed members of the local community at a stakeholder forum on Wednesday 8 March, at their helpline and drop in centre in Gants Hill.
Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, Director of Drugsline shared a platform with Iman Haroon Rashid Patel from Balfour Road Mosque, and hosted an open-floor discussion on how drugs and alcohol problems in the area can be solved by a joined-up approach.
In attendance were councillors from the London Borough of Redbridge, members of the council’s Drug Action Team and local MP, Lee Scott.
Other influential community members, including representatives from the local police force, teachers, doctors and specialist workers also attended. The event was entirely non-denominational and faith leaders from many religious communities in the area were present.
At the meeting, local MP Lee Scott signed a partnership bid by Drugsline and stakeholders in the Muslim community for funding from Redbridge Council to establish a pilot for a substance misuse intervention service. This will be achieved by using and extending the existing telephone helpline (open to the whole community) so that at dedicated times and days it will address the identified needs of two British Minority Ethnic communities. Counselling referrals that arise out of such use can be tailored to meet the language, cultural and faith aspects of those communities.
Commenting on the event, Rabbi Sufrin, said:
“Drugs policy remains high on the political agenda and it is important that all stakeholders make their voices heard. The whole community together has a louder voice than individual organisations do and it is very encouraging to see how together we are beginning to establish ways to deliver the best service for our area. We need to start tackling the serious problems drug and alcohol misuse gives rise to – and they do not end at the boundary of the local authority.”
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