Community-Led Insights from Rochdale

In February 2026, The Salik Project UK delivered a community focus group in Rochdale in partnership with High Level Northern Trust and the Bangladesh Association and Community Project (BACP). The session was held at BACP and brought together ten participants—primarily Bangladeshi women, alongside one Pakistani woman and one Bangladeshi man, aged between 18 and 50. Participants were recruited through BACP's established women's group, ensuring the discussion took place within a familiar and trusted environment.

The session ran for two hours and was structured in two parts: interactive activities to prompt reflection, followed by open discussion exploring responsibility, stigma, family impact, community response, faith, and access to support. The discussion was audio recorded with consent and analysed thematically.

This is qualitative, community-led research. It is not designed to be statistically representative, but to surface how addiction is understood, experienced, and responded to within this specific community context.

Addiction is framed through responsibility—but not in isolation

Participants consistently described addiction in terms of personal responsibility. Behaviour was linked to individual choice, discipline, and intention.

As one participant put it, "I think it's mainly up to me. If it's in my mind that I am going to do it, I am going to do it." Another stated directly that addiction is "a moral failure."

At the same time, this framing did not stand on its own. Participants also referred to the role of environment, peer pressure, and wider social influence, noting that "reality is society has a big impact."

What emerges is not a single explanation, but a layered one. Addiction is understood as something people are responsible for, while also being shaped by what surrounds them.

Emotional distress is recognised—but not easily explored

Participants referred to substance use as a way "to numb the past," indicating an awareness that addiction may be connected to difficult experiences or ongoing emotional strain.

This suggests that addiction is not viewed purely as reckless behaviour, but also as something that can develop in response to what people are dealing with. This part of the discussion remained relatively brief — emotional distress was acknowledged, but not explored in depth.

Families are the primary site of response—and the burden is uneven

Addiction was most often discussed through its impact on the family. Within this, one theme came through consistently: the role of mothers.

Participants described mothers as carrying the emotional and practical burden, with comments such as "mostly it's the mother that goes through a lot" and "it's always the mother who hides things."

In contrast, fathers were more often associated with public reputation, with one participant noting that "for the father it's about izzat because he's out and about in society."

Awareness is high—but confidence to respond is limited

Participants described drug use as visible within their local areas, including nitrous oxide canisters, open activity, and the presence of cannabis in everyday environments.

However, this visibility did not translate into confidence. One participant asked, "I don't know most of these drugs. How am I supposed to give them advice?"

Faith is referenced as influence—and points to a wider opportunity

Faith came up in the discussion as something that shapes behaviour and personal values. Participants referred to people becoming more religious and, in some cases, moving away from certain behaviours. Mosques were also identified as trusted spaces within the community.

At the same time, participants were clear that faith alone is not sufficient, particularly in more complex situations, and that professional support is needed alongside it.

Messaging that resonates reflects real life

When participants were shown a recovery story centred on a child expressing pride in their father, the response was immediate. One participant said, "Your child has understood you. That should be motivation."

What resonated was not the format, but the content—family, dignity, and change without shame.

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