Community Gathers for Drug Awareness Event

Some 650 Crown Heights residents attended Operation Survival’s drug awareness and prevention event on Sunday evening Jan 8th. The event served as an opportunity to highlight the need for prevention strategies and an increased awareness and understanding of the drug problem in the community.

The packed program included a wide variety of featured speakers. Mr. Yehuda Benjamin, a Crown Heights resident, spoke about losing his son Kazi OBM to an overdose. He emphasized the importance of assisting those struggling with addiction and eliminating the shame and stigma that so often accompanies families experiencing any form of addiction.

The evening’s guest speakers were Dr. Brad Reedy, a nationally renowned expert on parenting teens who discussed how to talk about drugs with your kids, Lewis J. Abrams, an addictions counselor who spoke about the signs and symptoms of addiction. In a visually memorable presentation, Dr. Eli Rosen, depicted the dangers of opioid overdose and how it is affecting our community. NYPD Inspector Joseph M. Gulotta, Commanding Officer 67th Precinct, also spoke about the importance of local policing and immediate reporting of any suspected drug dealers.

Following the presentations, there was a question and answer session moderated by Rabbi Shea Hecht.

Several organization including Amudim, MASK, Jewish Board of Family Services and Interborough had tables with informational brochures as well as having staff on hand to answer questions about their services.

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8 Comments

  • Moshe

    We need more of this for internet addiction I can’t climb out of this mess, where do I go for help? I’m drowning in shmutz

  • Menachem

    Where do I turn to for help with internet addiction?
    I am struggling with this since i was a bochur, I am now married with a few kids and this machleh isnt getting better.
    are there an S.A meetings in crown heights?

    • help is available

      Contact Rabbi Dr. Benzion Twersky or Dr. David Pelcovitz. They are frum professionals who do not judge (I have worked with both of them.) They will help you – for the sake of your own welfare as well as your family’s, please contact them today.

      Hatzlacha!

  • with the old breed

    thank you this is a great thing that will help not only the people of CH but the whole world. Please work together and there is nothing that can stand in your way.

  • 650 attendees???

    This number shows the extent of the problem in the frum community. These seminars are invaluable, but now it’s time to address gambling & sex addiction as well. This underworld gets bigger every day & we need to stop it NOW.