"When I started this work five years ago, the drugs issue was being brushed under the carpet in Blackburn's Asian community – kids using drugs would be sent off to Pakistan or India to learn the errors of their ways, but they'd just come back and end up getting into more serious drugs."

Hasan Sidat took on the position of Drugs Awareness Officer at Lancashire Council of Mosques knowing full well that his main battle would be bringing an issue to the fore that had always been dealt with behind the closed doors of family homes.

Discuss

He says: "When a parent found out their child was involved in using or dealing drugs they just didn't know what to do – they'd discuss it amongst themselves.

"You see, in Blackburn, the spoken word is faster than a text message – they'd be cases of a youngster going to the doctors about drug addiction and by the time they left, they'd be thrown on a plane over to Pakistan."

Hasan says that he knew the way forward was to get involved with the local Mosques in a bid to highlight the drugs problem so people wouldn't hide and could become more comfortable seeking information and advice.

"I decided to set up a meeting with the 33 Mosques in the Blackburn and Darwen area – 15 of them came down, listened to what I had to say, we gave them training on how to direct parents who wanted to help youngsters involved with drugs.

Mosques

"Within a few weeks I'd done the same thing with all the Mosques and encouraged them to discuss the issue at their teachings."

One particular case stands out for Hasan, as he explains: "I remember that one evening an Imam decided to include in his prayer teachings details about the help that is out there for parents of drug users and that very evening a man turned up at my door saying he was concerned for his son."

Power

"That showed the power of working alongside Mosques and how it gave somebody the confidence to seek help – the man's son is absolutely fine now I'm pleased to say."

Hasan took things a step further by holding awareness talks for hundreds of parents launching a Madrasah and Islamic Schools policy on drugs in 2004, supported by Imams and aimed at showing children the dangers of drugs.

Three years ago Hasan sent out a young man to research the local drugs scene, spending time on street corners and mixing with other youths – from 100 people, he found 32 had been using drugs ranging from the most common, cannabis, all the way to things like heroin.

Satisfaction

He admits that despite his job satisfaction and success in raising drugs awareness so far, there is still plenty of work to be done.

"I'm currently working alongside youngsters at local schools and Blackburn College on an interactive dvd, which will include debates, case studies and games, all looking at teaching youngsters about the dangers of drugs – they'll then be distributed amongst schools.

"I think if you get young people involved in the process, then they're far more likely to listen to the message I'm trying to get across."

ENDS