The picture that often comes to mind when discussing the issue of alcohol on college campuses is that of a wild party where drinks flow freely and inhibition is gone. In truth, this issue hits much closer to home than many students realize.
Alcoholism is a smaller issue in the Jewish community than in society at large, but it certainly still is a problem. The well-known Dr. Avraham Twerski explains that “Alcohol and substance abuse is the kind of thing that nobody talks about. The Jewish population tries to cover it up.”
This Adar, The YU Counseling Center, Office of Student Life, Student Councils, and Active Minds took a big step to change that perspective. As Sarah Robinson, the president of YU Active Minds put it, “It’s time for the frum community to discuss alcohol use. We must break the silence that surrounds these important issues and become a community of supporters.”
On February 25th there was an event on the Beren Campus titled “Alcohol: Purim and Beyond” aimed at bringing the issue of alcohol abuse in the Jewish community to light and educating students on its dangers. The event was repeated on the Wilf campus later on in the evening.
Although this is a problem year-round, the Counseling Center and other sponsoring bodies felt that Purim was an especially important and relevant time to run this event. Many students who otherwise would not drink in excess, or even at all, mistakenly feel that it is a halachik imperative on Purim to get drunk, regardless of the outcome. It was hoped that this event would give students information that would either lead them to change their plans or at least stay safe while drinking.
The event began with Dr. Esty Rollhaus giving a medical explanation of what happens to the body when it is introduced to alcohol. In short, the more drinks consumed in a short time span, the less the liver is able to metabolize the alcohol and the higher the blood alcohol level rises. It also takes alcohol longer to leave the blood if consumed in large quantities.
Dr. Rollhaus offered tips and guidance on how to drink safely and how to care for a friend who has had too much to drink. She emphasized that alcohol poisoning is very dangerous and can even be deadly, as is driving under the influence of even one drink.
Dr. Akiva Perlman, a substance abuse specialist, then spoke about the general issue of alcoholism in the Jewish community and how it can be dealt with. An important point made by Dr. Perlman was that having a drink now and then is perfectly fine; the problem is only when it turns into excessive drinking or harmful behavior.
A recovering alcoholic then spoke about her own experiences and road to recovery. She capped off the program and gave an inside look at how these issues manifest in our own community and what can be done to help those who are suffering.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), approximately 1,825 college students between the ages of 18-24 die each year from alcohol related causes. Additionally, well over one million college students in the same demographic suffer from alcohol related injuries or assault each year.
The biggest danger when it comes to dangerous drinking is the increasingly common practice of binge drinking, defined by the NIAAA as drinking at least 4-5 alcoholic drinks in the span of two hours.
YU Active Minds is already in the process of planning future events to continue the conversation and help those in need in the YU community. As always, if you or someone you know is suffering from an alcohol or other substance addiction, the Counseling Center is there to help and offer support.