IZZAT: South Asian Women & Substance Use

Alcohol, Izzat and Me, is a publication grounded in the lives of 18 South Asian women in the UK who had the courage to speak out about their problematic substance use. Its results are from a study by Dr Sarah Fox and colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The study, Seeking Solutions for South Asian women with alcohol use, highlights the unique barriers South Asian women face in accessing support for their substance use. Key findings highlight how South Asian women are seen as the keepers of the izzat and family honour, and so engaging in behaviours such as substance use goes against familial and societal expectations of them. Women are often left carrying great shame and secrecy regarding their substance use, which often impacts their access to support.

This event was hosted by PORe at Manchester Museum and initiated a 12-month-long community conversation on South Asian women, substances and recovery.

Comprising of guest speaker presentations and discussion on the subject with researcher Dr Sarah Fox from Manchester Metropolitan University, recovery advocate Aunee Bhogaita and SAFIR* (South Asian Females in Recovery). Following the discussion, you will have the option to explore the award-winning South Asia Gallery. Co-curated by South Asia diaspora communities the gallery presents a compelling contemporary take on South Asian and British Asian culture.

The project’s future artistic outcomes will be showcased as part of Recoverist Month, in September 2025.

Take a look at IZZAT: Alcohol & Me here.

“I attended the recently held ‘IZZAT: South Asian Women & Substance Use’ at the Manchester Museum, organised by Portraits of Recovery as part of Recoverist Month. Being among fellow South Asian women and discussing topics around alcohol addiction was empowering and very thought provoking. Listening to the speakers and their experiences, and reading the zine ‘Alcohol, Izzat and Me’ here, made me feel very welcome in the space and seen. I left the event with a lot of positive takeaways, and feel very glad to have attended the event”

Soumya

Speaker Details:

Dr Sarah Fox is a Researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on women’s experiences of substance use and their support needs. Her most recent project focused on the experiences and support needs of South Asian women who use substances

Aunee Bhogaita is a survivor of child sexual abuse, and domestic violence and has experience of alcohol addiction which spanned 12 years. Since coming into recovery, she founded Brown Girl in a Bottle and has used her experiences to challenge the stigmas and taboos associated with trauma and addiction within the South Asian community. 

SAFIR* (South Asian Females in Recovery) founded by Kim Kaur and Poonum Chauhan is a safe, culturally sensitive & non-judgmental space that supports & uplifts South Asian women who are defined as being active or in recovery from Drug/Alcohol Addiction.

Nusrat Ahmed is the Lead Curator of the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum. This contemporary take on South Asian and British Asian culture is the first permanent gallery in the UK to celebrate the experiences and contributions of the South Asian diaspora.