Shalom Berger on Substance Abuse: Who Bears Responsibility?

At Torah Currents, a quasi-blog established by the Orthodox Caucus.

He writes, in closing:

Why are our students “turned-off” to traditional community values and “turned-on” to [drugs, etc.]? Are our children’s lives so empty that they need to turn to alcohol, drugs, and gambling? Why do they need to escape? What are they escaping from?

It is time that parents, schools and community leaders brainstorm about these issues, not only on a level of “how can we solve the alcohol/drug/gambling/etc. problem?”, but also on a constructive level – “how can we fill our kids’ lives with meaning?” How can we make sure that our children understand that there is a purpose to their lives – a purpose that is greater than the short-term pleasure that any of these dangerous diversions can offer.

It is important that leaders of the American Orthodox community are discussing ways to deal with these issues and that they are offering to support Israeli institutions in facing them. But one of the main concerns should be a frank assessment and reevaluation of the values and priorities that are being fostered in the homes, schools and synagogues in North America (emphasis added).

Only when we address the root will there be any hope of fixing what's broken.

Indirect Hat Tip: Presence