About Us
Niyyah Recovery Initiative (NRI) is the first Recovery Community Organization in the nation to provide culturally responsive peer recovery support, education, awareness and advocacy in the East African immigrant, refugee, and Muslim population in Minnesota. Niyyah Recovery Initiative provides services to all individuals regardless of their religion or cultural ethnicity. Niyyah is a member of the national Association of Recovery Community Organizations (ARCO).
Niyyah in the news.
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Recovery Awareness Growing in East African Community as Crisis Takes Toll, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR)
As Budul, a Somali American Muslim woman, began her own journey of recovery from substance use disorder, she saw a pressing need for culturally-specific services. Budul founded her nonprofit Niyyah Recovery Initiative last year.
Niyyah means “intention” in Arabic, Budul explained. She aims to educate what she describes as the backbone of the community, particularly mothers and elders, about opioids and substance use disorder in the Somali language.
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First female Somali licensed drug counselor relishes new role, Pioneer Press
Farhia Budul is not Somali; She’s American-Somali. She sports a hijab and a Twins baseball cap, and she’s the first female Somali licensed alcohol and drug counselor in the state.
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Growing Opioid Use in the Somali Community Underscores Need for More Culturally Relevant Treatment Options, Star Tribune
Health care workers and community advocates say there is a growing need for culturally sensitive treatment and recovery programs as opioid overdoses continue to rise in Minneapolis' Somali community.
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Resistance in Color, NAMI MN
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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Perspectives on the Opioid Crisis, Augsburg University
At a time when the local Somali community is facing a crisis of opioid addiction, we will hear the perspectives of a community leader and educator, an expert in culturally responsive peer recovery support, and a student. In addition to learning more about the crisis we will focus on ways religious communities, health care providers and Augsburg are responding and might collaborate in the future.
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East African Recovery Support Webinar
Farhia Budul (Faarheeya Buuduuul) is a certified Peer Recovery Specialist, certified prevention professional who is widely recognized as a leader with regard to Substance use disorders and recovery, advocacy and service delivery. Budul, a person with lived experience of Substance Use Disorder and recovery, is a fierce voice for the unmet recovery needs of Minnesota's BIPOC communities.
Niyyah Recovery Initiative is a nonprofit organization which aims to provide peer recovery support, raise awareness and education about substance use disorders and mental health in the East African community in Minnesota. Niyyah is the first Recovery program in the nation to help this target population in post treatment support.
The East African community is struggling with substance use disorders. The young adults are impacted, and our elders are heartbroken and lost and do not know where to turn. They lack understanding and education about substance use disorders. Furthermore, the opioid epidemic has been greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced isolation has left thousands of East Africans severely disconnected from practically any available option to seek and/or begin recovery. For some young adults, it was too late. There were many East African young adults who overdosed on opioids. Niyyah Recovery Initiative bridges the gap to provide culturally-specific recovery support.
This community needs you and it’s up to us to make a difference for our immigrant refugee communities in Minnesota that are struggling with addiction. Niyyah Recovery Initiative (NRI) is the only program in the Nation that aims to provide culturally specific peer recovery services for this target population. Did you know the Arabic word for the noun “seeds” is the same as the Arabic word for the verb “intended?” So the Arabic word for seed is related to Niyyah which means “intention.” They come from the same roots and come from the same origins. Our intentions are like seeds and they contain the potential to grow into a strong fruitful tree that lasts for generations. Niyyah intends for others to achieve sobriety so future generations don’t have to struggle.
“Our intentions are like seeds and they contain the potential to grow into a strong fruitful tree that lasts for generations.”
— Productive Muslim