There is a pervasive myth that addiction is not a Jewish issue, that our values and traditions protect us from harm.
In reality, like all communities, the Jewish community is deeply impacted by substance misuse, with an estimated 180,000 Jewish people facing addiction, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
In the mid-late 1980s, opioids gained prominence in the United States as cure-all painkillers, after being erroneously identified in the New England Journal of Medicine as possessing a low addiction risk. As a result, doctors and hospitals were encouraged to prescribe opioids. Accreditation organizations unintentionally added to the increase by assessing a medical provider's effectiveness based on their patients' reported level of pain. The resulting surge in opioid prescriptions flooded the population with opioids, dramatically increased the incidence of Opioid Use Disorders, and marked the beginning of the opioid crisis in America.
Opioid use disorders are diagnosed when the use of an opioid substance, such as Norco, Vicodin, or heroin, interferes with an individual's normal functioning in work, relationships, and their ability to carry out the activities of daily living. Most people begin to misuse opioids to cope with pain. Their use is fueled not by the desire to get high or feel euphoric, but to regain homeostasis -- a sense of balance. Over time, those relying on narcotics require greater and greater dosages to achieve the same level of comfort. This pattern sets the stage for overdose, as the sedative nature of opioids doesn't just impact the mind, but also critical bodily functions such as respiration.
In the last few years, the loss of Jewish Chicagoans -- both young and old -- to opioid drug overdoses has shaken our community and led us to re-examine the meaning of addiction and those impacted by it. Addiction once was interpreted as the loss of control or a moral failing when in reality, "addiction is a complex process with biological, genetic, psychological, sociological, and spiritual components," explains Dr. Beth Fishman, Ph.D., manager of the Jewish Center for Addiction (JCA).
JCA, a program of Jewish Child & Family Services (JCFS), was established in 2014 to be a source of information, referral, and support for those facing substance misuse and their families. The center empowers individuals of all ages and walks of life to seek help. The program also works with Jewish community leaders, synagogues, and schools to develop and provide the services that the community needs while working to overcoming the stigma associated with substance misuse and addiction.
"In generations past," says Nina Henry, Addiction Specialist at JCFS, "individuals with substance use disorders may have assumed that they would not be welcomed in synagogues." The Torah does not always describe moments of inebriation -- real or perceived -- in a favorable light. The biblical figure Hannah, for example, was nearly cast out of the Temple when the high priest mistook her fervent prayer for drunkenness. Her actions only became acceptable and deserving of blessing when she proved her sobriety; a powerful, and unwelcoming, message to those struggling with alcohol or other drug misuse.
However, as the complexities of addiction become public knowledge, the community attitude is beginning to change. "The conversation has become more open in the Jewish community," explains Henry. Recently, for example, local synagogues and Jewish organizations -- often with the support of JCA -- have opened their spaces to peer-led recovery meetings. This enables Jews in recovery to attend meetings in Jewish communal spaces as well as the more typical churches, hospitals, and Alano Clubs, meeting places for addiction recovery groups.
JCA has also brought youth drug prevention programming based on Jewish values to Chicago-area synagogues and Jewish day schools. The Jewish spaces that support recovery in this way send an important message of hope and acceptance to the entire Jewish community.
"Addiction does not exist in a vacuum," affirms Dawn Levin, Safer Communities Coordinator at JCFS. It is an issue that impacts the entire family, and the whole community. "It's up to us to take care of each other."
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug misuse, and in need of help, please take advantage of the following resources:
Jenna Cohen serves as Grants and Planning Associate for Jewish Child & Family Services and is a freelance writer living in Chicago.
