It is a fact that alcohol and drug abuse are becoming more rampant in frum circles. I am by all definitions frum, and yes I am a recovering drug addict. If anyone wants to hear first-hand how easy it is to become an addict, ask the Mods how to contact me. What started as prescription pain killer use for a legitimate injury quickly spiraled in to full blown abuse. I am fortunate that I was able to get the proper help and deal with this issue before pain killers became heroin. This is not an exaggeration, Narcotic pain killers have the same addictive properties as heroin and pain killer abuse often leads to more serious drugs. I was not an alcoholic although I did enjoy a good drink, however drugs and alcohol share similar addictive properties. I attend Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings and have encountered other Jews from all across the spectrum of frumkeit. Both AA and NA share the principle that Alcohol is Drug. I used to think I was a big shot putting out the expensive scotch on Shabbos, now I cringe when I attend a simcha and see teenagers and young adults helping themselves to the alcohol. One does not need to be a “bum”, OTD, MO, or a teen at risk to fall in to the pitfall of abuse…it can happen to anyone.
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