[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman]

To suppress or not to suppress? – that is the question.

Do we sweep a major rise in heroin usage in a Jewish community under the rug, or do we expose it publicly to warn the masses so that protective measures can be taken?
This past week both an Ohio police department and the Five Towns Jewish Times made the decision not to suppress and rather to expose it publicly in an effort to raise awareness and hopefully save lives.

The poison known as heroin has made huge inroads since 2010 in communities across the country – even in orthodox Jewish communities.

Last week, the East Liverpool police department in Ohio decided to distribute a photograph of an unconscious man and woman in a car with a four year old child as part of a heroin awareness initiative. The photo was taken by a police officer.

According to the police, the couple would have died had the police not intervened. The photo shows the woman and man passed out, apparently from an overdose of heroin. In the picture, a 4-year-old boy in the back of the vehicle, still strapped in his car seat, looks out the window.

Paramedics were called and administered Narcan, an opiate reversal agent, to the woman, who was turning blue.

The police administrators felt that the benefits of using the photo to raise awareness about the perils of heroin outweighed any concerns about the child’s reputation. East Liverpool Police Chief John Lane remarked to CNN, “The whole ordeal will help the child in the long run.”

He further added, “It’ll get him the help that he needs, get him out of that environment and get him where he needs to be — in a safe environment, in a loving environment.”

By the same token, the Five Towns Jewish Times and Amudim decided to publicize the case of a young woman, a granddaughter of an illustrious Rabbinic family, who recently passed away from an overdose.

But what is the halacha in such cases? Should we suppress or publicize?

PROOF FROM PILEGESH B’GIVAH

Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moshe YD II #150) has a fascinating explanation of the very disturbing story of Pilegesי b’Givah found at the end of Sefer Shoftim.

If we recall, a man and his concubine were traveling. As night approached they opted to stay in the safer city of Givah in the area of Benjamin. They were taken in by the only hospitable man in the city, but soon the townspeople abuse the concubine until morning, killing her. The man cuts up the corpse into twelve pieces, and sent each of the pieces to all the tribes of Israel.

Aside from the shocking behavior of the men of Binyomin, the man’s act of cutting was horrific as well. What about the prohibition of nivul hamais – desecration of the deceased? What about the prohibition of delaying burial? Rav Feinstein explains that the latter prohibition was set aside because of the need to create a “Roshem al hatzibbur – an impact on the congregation.” The first prohibition is somewhat mitigated by the fact that she was already in a state of desecration. Rav Feinstein further writes that the man who did the cutting is to be considered a Kasher – an upright individual.

APPLICATION

The point is that we see, on rare occasions – in order to make an impression on the congregation, it is sometimes permissible to negate a prohibition. Here, in publicizing the issue – there is no prohibition per se, but rather it is a sensitivity to the observant public. That being the case, in order to possible preserve human life, it would be permitted, indeed, warranted to develop an awareness campaign.

Now while other Meforshim do not necessarily share Rav Feinstein’s view that he was an upright individual, that does not mean that they disagree with Rav Feinstein’s logic in the situation.

Suppressing the necessary information of how to recognize and be aware of how to deal with this addiction may also be a violation of “Lo Saamod Al Dam Rayacha. mentioned both in Shulchan Aruch (CM 426:1) and in the Rambam.

The verse in Parshas Ki Taytzai (Dvarim 22:2) discusses the Mitzvah of Hashavas Aveida – returning an object with the words, “Vahashaivoso lo – and you shall return it to him.” The Gemorah in Sanhedrin (73a), however, includes within its understanding of these words the obligation of returning “his own life to him as well.” Recognizing and treating a potential addict is certainly a fulfillment of this Mitzvah.

Lo Suchal l’hisalaym

There is yet another negative commandment associated with the positive commandment of Hashavas Aveida, and that is the verse in Dvarim (22:3), “You cannot shut your eyes to it.” This verse comes directly after the Mitzvah of Hashavas Aveidah. The Netziv (HeEmek Sheailah) refers to this Mitzvah as well.

V’Ahavta l’Rayacha Kamocha

The Ramban, Toras haAdam Shaar HaSakana (p42-43) understands the verse of “And love thy neighbor as yourself” as a directive to save him from danger as well. Although he discusses the issue of medical danger,

it is clear that this is an example, and it would apply to an addiction danger as well. Even without the Ramban, however, it is clear that defending and protecting someone from drug dangers is a fulfillment of this Mitzvah.

LOCAL POSKIM

This author has also consulted with one of the leading Poskim in the Five Towns community, Rav Binyomin Forst Shlita, who expressed the opinion that the information should not be suppressed and that the community should be made aware of this growing tragedy. Askanim and Rabbonim in the community should unite to decide upon a plan of action.

OUR COMMUNITY

In our community alone, according to Tzvi Gluck of Amudim, heroin overdoses exceed the combined deaths by homicide and by motor vehicles. According to current trends, in the United States alone there will be 16,000 heroinAnd statistics indicate this trend will only increase.

It affects our children, our families, our neighbors, our friends and our colleagues. Many of us are unaware that this happens where we live, but heroin use statistics make it painfully obvious that heroin knows no bounds.

HOW DO THEY START?

Heroin use can start off innocently – for adults it can begin with a prescription for opiate-based painkillers to manage pain after injury or surgery. When the pills run out, the need may not. For younger adults it is often the next drug – one used with cocaine and or marijuana.

PREVENTION

Prevention is the key. We need to educate our communities, our shul members, and ourselves. We should bring in experts in our shuls so that we can know the warning signs of heroin use and what to do to take action. The signs of a heroin addict are hidden in plain sight, but unfortunately sometimes we miss them.

Being aware of these signs can help detour a path to addiction and save lives

True, addictions are powerful and relentless, but they can be treated. Awareness, education and making the necessary resources available are critical to saving the lives of our children and brethren.

The author can be reached at [email protected]