For interested and troubled parents, youth leaders and professionals
The aim of this page is to help you understand and confront the problem of drugs. Many
people think they have nothing to worry about, it can't happen in their family. But
that's just where it does happen… This page will bring you some information, suggest
food for thought, and hopefully help you confront the issue. It will not provide
answers, solve problems or provide a comprehensive overview. Drug abuse is a very
serious problem, and dealing with it is all the more complex owing to the aura of
legitimacy that the use of drugs has acquired in society, which is very harmful.
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In Israel over 300,000 people are known to use drugs regularly, 70,000 of them youngsters.
The number of drug addicts has reached 25,000. They come from all socioeconomic strata of
society and all the various religious backgrounds. They live in the cities and in the
country. They experience great suffering; some of them have ended up in hospitals and
mental institutions. The lives of many families have been destroyed as a consequence,
both emotionally and economically. Drug-related deaths are not uncommon.
In Malkishua we are treating those who had started by taking "harmless drugs" – as called by
those fighting to make their use legitimate; they did not know when to stop and became
addicted. Addiction is related to mental states, not to the type of drug. Ongoing use of
drugs stems from certain states and situations, frequently found among young people, such
as loneliness, a feeling of emptiness, boredom, peer pressure, a sense of failure, loss of
contact with the family, victimization, a feeling that nobody cares. Parents, youth
leaders, and instructors can and should step in.
First, you must acquire the necessary knowledge and face up to the facts. If you are
apprehensive about the youngsters' behavior, get some advice. Check how they are spending
their time and with whom. Become aware of the difficulties facing them and find out how
they feel - try to get them to talk to you openly and frankly.
Here are some suggestions to help you by providing useful information:
1. The Anti-drug Authority's extensive website
http://www.antidrugs.org.il/ contains details
about the various kinds of drugs and how they are used, and their effects. It also provides
worldwide links and a glossary of terms (the jargon used).
2. This website
http://www.snunit.k12.il/law/drugs.html
provides some information on the physiological effect of drugs, the attitude of the police
and of the Ministry of Education, and also relates specifically to the abuse of hashish,
the most accessible and widely used drug.
3. http://benafshenu.jerusalem.muni.il/psycology/alcohol2.htm
Alcohol, drugs, mental illness. The article surveys the effects of drugs on the mind and
on mental illness.
4. http://lib.cet.ac.il/Pages/item.asp?item=11276
Facts for adolescents using drugs and for their parents.
5. http://lib.cet.ac.il/Pages/item.asp?item=11276
Link to the website of the Histadrut (Trade Union) of Doctors. Article about the mental
and physical risks in using marihuana, hashish and cannabis products.
Drug culture
1. http://www.joint.co.il/joint/data01.php
Website of prices, reflecting the characteristics of the culture of smoking drugs and
getting stoned.
2. http://www.narkisim.com/ Website presenting the
point of view of addicts who reject the use of drugs and are daily confronting the
challenge of remaining drug free.
What can be done?
1. http://www.macom.org.il/topic.asp
Website providing a list of organizations assisting addicts.
2. http://community.walla.co.il/ts.cgi?tsscript=f/index&forum_id=1151&cat_id=306
Walla forum of addictions, relevant for consultation, assistance and support.
3. http://www.yelem.org.il/yelem/cat.asp?catid=19&parentid=59
Y ELEM website for accessing reading material, referral for treatment and forum for online
consultation.
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Address:
Amutat Neve Malkishua
D.N. Gilboa, 19170,
Israel
malkishua@malkishua.org.il
www.malkishua.org.il
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For information,
please call: 972-4-6488222, 972-4-6584007
You will obtain all the necessary details by 'phone.
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