Islamic Assessment of the Effects of Alcoholism on the Muslim Drunkards in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Alcohol is undoubtedly harmful and adversely affects the mind and the body. It beclouds the mind, causes diseases, wastes money and destroys individuals, families and communities. Researchers have proven that there is a strong link between alcohol and gambling. Alcohol creates enmity and hatred between people, prevents them from remembering Allah (SWT) and distracts them from praying, and calls them to participate in unlawful relationships. The aim of this study is eliminate or reduce to the barest minimum the intake of alcohol in Nasarawa State particularly among the Muslim youth. The study asks the following questions: what is the perception, extent of consumption, effects and the remedy to alcohol consumption among the Muslim drunkards in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Consequently, with problems of such magnitude, it is clear that even the most effective treatment programs for alcohol dependence cannot possibly constitute an adequate response. The methodology of the study is the use of questionnaires to collect data. Moreover, treatment approaches have had only limited success in this field, and there is much concern at present about their cost-effectiveness even when they are successful. In the light of all these considerations and being the first study ever conducted that covers the whole Nasarawa state in Nigeria, it appears inescapable that the major focus of efforts to reduce alcohol related problems must be on the area of primary prevention which had been unequivocally advocated by Islam over 1400 years ago.