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Alcoholism
Is it a new Jewish disease?
by Marda Spiegel
One of the lingering myths of
Judaism is that alcoholism is a
nonexistent problem in our
community. While the community
at large is increasingly concerned
about uncovering and treating this
persistent disease, the Jewish
community avoids the issue by
negating its existence. The interest
in alcoholism is just about as great
as the interest in leprosy.
First it is important to
understand that alcoholism is a
disease; it is defined as such by the
American Medical Association,
and listed as the third leading cause
of death in the United States,
following heart disease and cancer.
It contributes heavily to
automobile accidents and deaths
young men became part of the
armed forces. They be«ime a part
of a great body of young men,
mostly from other cultural
backgrounds, none raised in the
same traditions. A breakdown of
living patterns and assimilation
was bound to occur. There often
were no community facilities for
recreation, and drinking for many
was their only social outlet. For
most young Jews this was a new
form of behavior which they
carried back with them to their
colleges, fraternities, and homes
when they were discharged. It was
a part of the social ritual in the
"new society" which was forming.
For the most part those young
people who returned to observant
families in largely Jewish
as well as to child-battering and
divorce.
Traditionally the Jewish
community was known for its
sobriety. Drunkenness was
frowned upon except on Simhat
Torah and Purim. And yet the
word 'shikkur' is part of our
vocabulary, and it does not only
refer to gentiles. Jewish literatue as
early as the Bible contains stories
about Jews who became
inebriated.
There have always been people
whose metabolism predisposed
them to alcohol addiction, but this
was not a problem because the
Jewish community as a whole was
relatively abstinent Wine was
sanctified and consumed as part of
religious ritual; moderation in all
things was part of the total ethic.
Children learned moderation from
their parents, and a wholesome
tradition was transmitted. So
where did the proble^i arise?
As we assimilated, we took up
social drinking. During World
War II large numbers of Jewish
communities retained the values of
their parents regarding drinking.
But for the others, moving out into
integrated suburban communities,
they began to become assimilated.
If the custom was having cocktail
parties before any important
event, then the Jewish
organizations also had cocktail
parties, wine-tasting parties.
Drinks were no longer pan of
ritual or festive meals but the sole
excuse for entertaining: “Come
over for a drink.” The “bar" began
to be more important than the
“mitzvah."
Many of 'these youdg people.
now grown, took their place in the
professions for which they trained
Statistics show that the highest
rate of alcoholism by profession is
among psychiatrists, dentists and
lawyers; traditionally considered
to be “Jewish" professions.
During the drug epidemic of the
sixties, the children of these very
families began to turn on to drugs.
The involvement of Jewish young
people from good homes became a
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Frightening thing for the whole
community. As a result many
parents encouraged their
youngsters to use alcoholic
beverages—beer and wine as a
safer alternative to hard drugs or
marijuana. The parents were
comfortable for they understood
drinking and even occasional
drunkenness. They were reassured
because drunkenness was never a
Jewish problem.
What they did net understand is
that alcohol is a drug! Alcohol is
the most addictive of all drugs.
One in ten people who use alcohol
will become addicted, Jew or non-
Jew. The reason for the increase in
Jewish involvement in the disease
is explained simply by the increase
in the numbers of Jews using the
drug.
Drinking among Jewish teen
agers in suburban communities,
and in integrated city com
munities, is probably epidemic.
These adolescents are surrounded
by a drug-taking society. They see
it advertised on television. They
see it consumed thoughtlessly in
the home. “Have a headache take
aspirin." “Have a depression take
valium.” “Have fatigue take
dexidrin.”
Coupled with increasingly
permissive parental attitudes are
the normal problems of
adolescence such as trying on adult
behavior, testing parental values,
mimicking role models, and
dealing with peer group pressures.
It is not surprising then that they
try drinking, and most young
people do just that—thdy try it,
experiment, and learn how to
handle it. But one in ten will
become addicted.,
Once addiction has occurred a
second problem arises. Because of
denial and lack of knowledge of
the disease, the behavior is not
identified or treated and continues
to the point of damaging not only
the drinker but the family as well.
In general Jewish alcoholics do not
enter the normal treatment
modality, instead they turn to
physicians and psychiatrists who
are as ill-equipped as they to
recognize or prescribe treatment.
(Marcia Spiegel is president of
Alcoholism Council Associates in
Los Angeles.) sk "'*
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