The significant rise in addiction rates has unfortunately not spared our community.

Following the highly successful Addictions Awareness event in Brooklyn, which saw hundreds in attendance, OHEL and Amudim are again providing an awareness event in the Catskills this Shabbos 14^th July and motzei Shabbos.

With the escalation of addictions in the community, OHEL and Amudim are inviting parents and the wider community to learn how to detect the early warning signs, minimize the risk of addiction, and protect their children.

This highly informative Weekend of Addiction Awareness: Prevention and Response, Shabbos Parshas Pinchas, is being presented at Woodlake Village in Woodridge, NY.

The weekend include talks Friday night, Shabbos day and a Saturday night lecture series by highly professional and compelling speakers, each an expert in their respective addictions-related field.

Friday night Dr. Norman Blumenthal, OHEL’s Director of Trauma and Crisis Counseling will discuss “Mental Illness in the Orthodox Community. What Can We do?”

Shabbos Day, Dr. Tamar Perlman, noted lecturer and clinician, will address “Fire, Water, Wind and Earth: Your Soul Element and How it Impacts Your Relationships.”

David Mandel, CEO of OHEL says that “OHEL partnering with Amudim, believe we can powerfully further diminish the stigma of mental illness, through a greater awareness of the challenges of addiction in the community, and the availability of professional services to those who need help.”

The first step in addressing the crisis is acknowledging that it does exist. “It’s no longer possible to try and make believe that certain things that are killing our kids are not happening,” says Zvi Gluck of Amudim. “These are issues that we must confront and accept that they are a problem. It is our responsibility as members of Klal Yisrael to do something about it.”

Opening remarks to Motzei shabbos event will be made by Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein, followed by Dr Akiva Perlman, Director of Clinical Supervision at Amudim on “Reviving the Addict: Understanding the Person Behind the Addiction” and Dr. Norman Blumenthal, OHEL Director of Trauma and Crisis Counseling at OHEL will address “Addiction: Identifying and Diminishing Risks.”

The event’s message is that treatment and recovery is possible. Addiction cannot be ignored, and the path to recovery cannot be navigated alone. Help is available for victims and their families.

The Motzei shabbos informative event is open to the public, and is free of charge.

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