Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Chairman of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, and the Orthodox Union jointly sponsored a round table discussion looking into drug and alcohol abuse in the Jewish community.
The event took place at, the Young Israel of Midwood. Thirty experts including rabbis, social workers, doctors, psychologists, counselors, program directors and attorneys got together to discuss this important issue.
There is a culture of denial throughout much of the community when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse that extends all the way to the halls of the Legislature. When I talk to my colleagues they have trouble believing that there is a need for funding prevention and treatment programs in the Jewish community. Thats why I asked Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, the Orthodox Unions Executive Vice President, Emeritus, to help me convene a panel of experts to confirm the problems and begin to explore remedies, Cymbrowitz explained.
Rabbi Dr. Weinreb added, This issue has long been of great concern to the Orthodox Union. We have an ongoing program, called Safe Homes, Safe Shuls, and Safe Schools, which has made some impressive inroads. This round table, along with our partnership with Assemblyman Cymbrowitz, brings the matter to the next level and to a much broader audience.
The experts agreed that there is a growing problem of drug and alcohol abuse in the Jewish community. Addressing this concern is complicated by the perception that there is no problem because many of those abusing drugs or alcohol are not only functioning, but maintaining either high grades or business success. Despite the appearance of all is well, the clinicians and rabbis reported that they are seeing a significantly higher incidence of problems and a frustration that there are too few resources to respond.
Another obstacle to dealing with this problem head-on is the shame that a drug or alcohol problem causes in the Jewish community. Whether its just embarrassment or the fear of difficulty with a shidduch in the future, drug and alcohol problems are often kept behind closed doors by families, shuls and organizations. This only serves to exacerbate the problem, Cymbrowitz said.
We cant expect to find a solution to this problem within the confines of a two hour discussion. This meeting is just the start of a focused effort to make sure that the rabbinate, roshei yeshiva and community leaders know the extent of the problem. Only then can we begin to be sure that the necessary prevention and treatment programs are in place to stem this growing problem, Cymbrowitz added.
Some concrete next steps emerged from the meeting, including a call for research, a planned intense parent education effort in target communities, and the development of a mailing list of resources. Many of the participants have already volunteered to be involved in these next steps.
