Alarming Rise in Sexual Violence and Substance Abuse Among Israeli Youth, Report Shows

The Israeli nonprofit Elem, which supports at-risk youth, presented its annual report to President Isaac Herzog on Sunday, revealing a troubling increase in youth distress amid the ongoing security crisis since October 7. Based on interactions with approximately 15,000 teenagers over the past year, the report highlights that about 50% of youth have experienced violence or sexual violence. It also documents a sharp rise in alcohol and drug use, with 66% reporting alcohol consumption, a 21% increase from last year, and 45% reporting drug use.

The report further notes a 70% surge in self-harm reports and a 73% increase in anger levels since the start of 2026, linked to the escalation in security tensions. Elem describes how youth initially mobilized survival mechanisms in 2024, but as the emergency situation eased in 2025, trauma surfaced more visibly. The report warns that violence has become a pervasive reality affecting nearly every Israeli household, with some youths feeling compelled to carry knives for self-protection.

President Herzog emphasized the severity of the findings, calling them a societal test and urging against accepting a reality where violence, loneliness, and despair dominate young lives. Rabbi Shai Piron, chairman of Elem, stressed that the data demands a broad systemic response, as isolated interventions are no longer sufficient to address the crisis among Israeli youth.