Working Together Making the Greater Five Towns A Drug-Free Community

Y Celebrate Purim Safely Monday Night March 9, 2020 begins the Jewish Holiday of Purim.

Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the sinister plot of annihilation at the hands of the powerful anti-Semite, Haman. Spiritually, the suggested message of Purim is that while at times God seems hidden, God is always watching over and protecting the Jewish people. However, while never the intention, Purim has also become a holiday marred with underage drinking and alcohol related injuries and deaths. This is an issue that is repairable if the Jewish community would just take a collective stand and prevent young people from having easy access to alcohol on Purim. It is not enough to simply expect the Shuls to not serve alcohol to kids, or to know if the parents are comfortable discussing underage drinking or to lock up the booze or think some friends of our youth are good influences.  It is time that as a Jewish community we work together or the ramifications will be deadly.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Teens who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21. An early age of drinking onset is also associated with alcohol-related violence not only among persons under age 21 but among adults as well. It has been estimated that over three million teenagers are out-and-out alcoholics. Several million more have a serious drinking problem that they cannot manage on their own. Annually, more than 5,000 deaths of people under age 21 are linked to underage drinking. The three leading causes of death for 15- to 24-year-olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides — alcohol is a leading factor in all three.

Purim video raising awareness about teen drinking on the holiday

Strategies for parents to prevent underage drinking video

 Saving Lives Five Towns Drug and Alcohol Coalition Wishes You A Safe and Joyous Purim Holiday Celebration.

For further information about how you can join our Community Coalition to help reduce youth drug and alcohol use in the Greater Five Towns and to help Save Lives - please contact Susan Blauner, Director Substance Abuse Prevention, Awareness and Education P: 516.659-6733 E: susan.blauner@guraljcc.org

"bringing about community awareness to address youth mental health and addiction issues and to reduce youth drug and alcohol use through education, media advocacy, increased enforcement and changes in policies."