Designing a recovery playbook for Muslim Americans experiencing substance use disorders

Substance use disorders (SUDs) within the Muslim American community presents unique challenges influenced by cultural, religious, and social factors. Research indicates that SUDs are often hidden within Muslim communities due to the stigma surrounding them. Addressing SUDs requires culturally sensitive prevention and treatment programs that consider the diverse backgrounds and specific needs of Muslim Americans. The goal with this Lab was to create a recovery playbook that can guide Muslim communities in their journey through recovery. This playbook was based on the feedback we received from two online workshops with seven participants from across the US. Doing a thematic analysis of the data we gathered from these workshops led us to identify the resources that are available as well as the barriers that Muslim communities face in their recovery journey. This article documents the process through which we designed and developed the playbook which we hope will serve as a personal companion to anyone interested in aligning their recovery journey with their Islamic values.