A drug worker from Blackburn, hailed for his groundbreaking work within Asian communities across the UK, has been nominated for a top government award.

Unsung hero Hasan Sidat has been shortlisted for the Home Office's Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards, which honour people who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to get others off drugs.

He has worked tirelessly to get accurate drugs advice out to Asian groups in the borough and challenge long-standing myths.

But Hasan has been singled out for developing a one of a kind substance abuse policy, incorporating local mosques and schools, which has helped to break down barriers and save countless lives.

Mahmood Chandia, Executive Director of Lancashire Council of Mosques, and who nominated Hasan for the award said:

"Hasan has been responsible for a seismic shift in the mindset of Blackburn and Darwen's Asian communities towards substance abuse.

"He has been absolutely pivotal in taking them from a state of denial to one of acknowledgement and action. That is why he has been put forward for this award."

Hasan's innovative approach to tackling drugs has seen him pioneer a way of working that has now been successfully adopted by drugs teams across the UK.

He has provided training to more than 25 local Imams (Mosque leaders) and 2,000 children and parents to help them recognise and deal with drugs issues.

But his nomination is as much to do with his selfless attitude as it is to his visionary approach to the challenge.

Mr Chandia added:

"Hasan has used his cultural knowledge to contribute to an increased understanding and awareness of substance misuse that has benefited everyone.

"His selfless commitment to his work, beyond the call of duty has overcome the reluctance within communities to step up to the challenge.

"He has provided priceless advice and guidance to local authorities and frontline service providers beyond his remit and across the British Isles. "

Judges are now selecting the North West nominees who will go on to represent the region in the national Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards in December.

Notes to Editors

1 There are four main strands to the current Drug Strategy:

i. Prevention - reduce the use of Class A drugs and the frequent use of any illicit drug by all young people under the age of 25, especially the most vulnerable.

ii. Treatment - increase the numbers of problematic drug users in treatment by 100% by 2008, and increase year on year the proportion of users successfully sustaining or completing treatment.

iii. Tackling supply - generate a sustained impact on the supply of Class A drugs into the UK, while working to tackle local dealers and the availability of drugs in local communities.
iv. Reducing drug-related crime - substantially increase the number of drug-misusing offenders entering treatment through the Criminal Justice System.

2 There are 149 local Drug Action Teams/Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships responsible for delivering the Drug Strategy. Their work aims to tackle supply, target young people to prevent them becoming tomorrow's drug users, get more people into treatment and reduce the fear of crime that drug misuse can cause.

3 The current 10-year drug strategy ends in March 2008. The new strategy, which will be launched at the end of this year, will re-focus on the strategies and interventions that have had the greatest positive impact, maintaining a firm focus on drugs as a Government priority, while building on opportunities to develop and deliver the strategy as part of the wider policy framework. A substantive discussion document and details of the consultation process are being developed, and will shortly be posted on http://www.drugs.gov.uk. For more information about what the Government is doing to tackle drugs visit: http://www.drugs.gov.uk.

4. The Home Office launched the national 'Changing Lives Making Communities Safer campaign' January 2007. Working with over 65 drugs and crime agencies the aim is to communicate the work local agencies are doing to tackle crime, drugs, anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuse in their areas, and the impact this is having. The campaign aims to improve people's awareness of the action being taken, with the aim of helping them to feel safe in their community.

Source: Government News Network

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