Faith-based approach in the control of substance abuse: interventional perspective of Hisbah in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Substance abuse has become a global problem which is being addressed as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 3.5, and focused on the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, especially narcotic drug addiction, and hazardous alcohol use. In Nigeria, several efforts have been made by succeeding governments to reduce substance abuse through formal This study, therefore, examines the roles of Hisbah (an Islamic police force in Northern Nigeria tasked with upholding Shari’a law) as an informal strategy for reducing substance abuse, as well as people’s views of Hisbah’s role in the prevention and control of substance use in Kano State, Nigeria. The study’s theoretical grounding is in Emile Durkheim’s Theory of Religion and Social Control. This exploratory study employed a qualitative approach in its methods of investigation. This study recruited a total of 24 participants. These participants were made up of two (2) executives of Hisbah, three (3) Hisbah Commandants, five (5) Hisbah field personnel, seven (7) offenders, and seven (7) members of the general public. The qualitative data obtained were analyzed using narrative technique and thematic approach with the aid of Atlas ti. software. Findings from the study indicated that religious organizations such as that of the Hisbah play a significant role in the fight against substance abuse. The study recommended that religious organizations should be co-opted into mainstream government policies in the fight against drug and substance use. means. Still, the threat has persisted owing to the weak implementation of substancerelated policies and laws. Despite this, there is little empirical research on faith- based informal mechanisms of reducing the threat.