Islamic Position on Illicit Drugs (Part 2)

In Ghana, the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), prohibits the possession, use, trade, or cultivation of narcotic drugs without lawful authorisation.

The law now adopts a more public health-based model, emphasising rehabilitation and education while still maintain­ing punitive measures against trafficking and illegal posses­sion.

This opens doors for religious and social actors to play key roles in prevention and heal­ing.

How the Youth and General Society Are Typically Lured into Illicit Drugs;

One of the primary gateways to drug use is peer pressure. Many young people are intro­duced to drugs by friends who make substance use appear fashionable or as a coping mechanism for stress, bore­dom, or emotional trauma.

In urban slums and some schools, peer groups become influential in shaping be­haviour, particularly when parental supervision is weak or societal structures have collapsed.

Another contributor is media influence—with movies, music, and social media sometimes glamorising substance use. Un­employment, poverty, broken homes, academic stress, and lack of religious education also contribute significantly.

Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Sa‘di explains that when faith weakens, individuals seek escape in destructive behaviours. Hence, strength­ening iman (faith) is a critical defence against temptation.

Rescuing Victims: Rehabili­tation and Social Support

Those who fall into drug addiction must not be con­demned but rather supported with compassion and care. Islam emphasises mercy and hope:

“Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.” (Qur’an 39:53).

Rehabilitation centres, faith-based recovery programmes, community counselling, and mosque-based interventions are all vital tools.

Imams and scholars should be equipped with basic knowl­edge in addiction counselling. Collaboration with the Nar­cotics Control Commission and health institution can create models where religious guid­ance and medical treatment go hand-in-hand.

Impact of Illicit Drugs on Society

Illicit drug use damages physical health, corrupts moral values, and leads to crime and unemployment. It depletes a nation’s human capital, as youths and adults become dependent, mentally unstable, and economically unproductive. It also leads to violence, theft, and domestic abuse.

The Qur’an declares: “And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands.” Qur’an 2:195)

Impact of Illicit Drugs in Schools

In Ghana, the increasing prevalence of drug abuse in schools has led to absentee­ism, violent behaviour, ac­ademic failure, and mental health issues.

Some school dropouts have become part of gang culture, especially in urban areas, threatening future nation­al development. These environments must be purified and protected with strong policy, parental involvement, and faith-based education.

UNICEF, Ghana Health Ser­vice, and Other Reports

UNICEF (2019) highlight­ed the correlation between substance abuse and early childhood trauma, noting that youth exposed to abuse, neglect, or poverty are more susceptible to drug use.

The Ghana Health Service’s 2022 report showed a 17 per cent rise in mental health cas­es linked to drug abuse, with youth between 15–35 years most affected.

Narcotics Control Commis­sion Statistics

According to the 2022 Annual Report of the Narcotics Con­trol Commission, over 8,000 arrests were made for drug offenses.

Cannabis remains the most abused drug, with growing concerns about synthetic drugs and pharmaceutical abuse, especially tramadol and cough syrups with codeine.

Islamic Law and Maqasid

al-Shari‘ah

The five universal objectives of Islamic law (maqasid al-shari‘ah)—preserving religion (deen), life (nafs), intellect (‘aql), lineage (nasl), and wealth (maal)—are all endan­gered by drug abuse.

Any initiative that protects these objectives is not just legally encouraged but reli­giously mandated.

Imam Al-Shatibi, in al-Mu­wafaqat, asserts that laws are designed not for hardship but to preserve human dignity and collective wellbeing.

Therefore, illicit drugs threaten the very fabric of what Shari’ah seeks to pro­tect:

1. Preservation of Religion (Hifz ad-Deen) – Drug use weakens a person’s sense of religious duty. Addicts often neglect prayer, fasting, and remembrance of Allah, falling into sin and heedlessness.

2. Preservation of Life (Hifz an-Nafs) – Drugs increase the risk of premature death through overdose, suicide, or violence. Islam strictly forbids self-harm: “And do not kill yourselves.

Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful” (Qur’an 4:29).

3. Preservation of Intellect (Hifz al-‘A9ql) – One of the clearest reasons intoxicants are forbidden. The mind is the seat of moral judgment. Losing one’s intellect means losing the capacity for faith and responsibility.

4. Preservation of Lineage (Hifz an-Nasl) – Drug addiction often leads to moral decay, fornication, and broken fam­ilies, harming future genera­tions.

5. Preservation of Wealth (Hifz al-Maal) – Addicts squan­der wealth on drugs, harming families and communities. Islam commands us to be cus­todians of our resources.

These objectives guide the Islamic legal position that drug abuse is not just a sin, but a social threat that must be collectively confronted.

By Imam Saeed Abdulai