Yoni, a 19-year-old Israeli man, had to change his plans to join the military and instead seek rehab for drug abuse worsened by the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Health professionals have observed a rise in drug and alcohol abuse, as well as other addictive behaviors, during wartime in Israel.
Yoni, who preferred to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, shared that his drug use escalated significantly after the war began as a way to cope with the traumatic events.
Psychiatrist Shaul Lev-Ran and his team at the Israel Center on Addiction have noted a significant increase in the consumption of various addictive substances following the October 7 attack.
According to their study, there has been a 25% rise in the consumption of addictive substances among Israelis indirectly exposed to the events of October 7.
One in four Israelis has reported an increase in addictive substance use, compared to one in seven before the war in 2022.
The Palestinian Authority did not have equivalent data on addiction and mental health for the Palestinian territories.
– ‘Shock’ –
The October 7 attack had a profound impact on Israeli society, leading to a rise in addictive behaviors among individuals closer to the trauma.
The study also found an increase in addictive substance consumption among survivors of the attack and Israelis displaced from communities near Gaza or Lebanon.
– ‘Forget’ –
Israel is facing an epidemic of substance addiction, with a surge in the use of sleeping pills and painkillers.
Individuals like Yoni and Matan, a soldier deployed in Gaza, have turned to drugs as a way to escape reality and cope with the ongoing conflict.
Yoni plans to complete his military service after rehab to prove his capabilities and contribute to his community.
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