Addiction Crisis Among Haredi Youth: Alcohol, Drugs, and Screens on the Rise

Rabbi Eitan Eckstein, CEO and founder of the addiction treatment organization Retorno, has revealed a growing crisis of addiction among young men in the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. In a stark interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Rabbi Eckstein detailed alarming trends including marijuana use in dormitories, widespread alcohol consumption at weddings, and increasing screen addiction.

He described how young men are smoking cannabis in their dormitory settings, a behavior previously unheard of in the community. The problem of alcohol abuse is particularly evident at weddings, where it has become a significant issue. Furthermore, Rabbi Eckstein highlighted the pervasive nature of screen addiction, which is impacting the youth's daily lives and mental well-being.

Rabbi Eckstein emphasized that addiction often begins where rational thought ends, suggesting a complex interplay of psychological and social factors contributing to the problem. He also shared a personal anecdote about the late Rabbi Steinman, a prominent Haredi leader, who had requested a lesson on the topic of addiction, underscoring the seriousness with which such issues were viewed even by the community's most respected figures.

The interview serves as a wake-up call to the Haredi community, urging greater awareness and intervention to address these escalating addiction issues among its youth.