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 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.
Please take the time to view the videos of presenters and pass on the information you learn. You could be saving a life.
So Close to Home – The Dangers of an Opioid Overdose
Dr Eli Rosen
Cooperating with the Law
NYPD Inspector Joseph M. Gulotta, Commanding Officer 67th Precinct
How to talk to your kids about drugs
Dr. Brad Reedy
“Kazi”
Yehuda Benjamin
Signs and symptoms of addiction
Lewis J. Abrams
thank you for your speech and for your lifelong dedication
Guardyoureyes.com
I come from a Lubavitcher family going back generations from both sides. Sad to say, I cringe when I hear my mother speak in hushed tones at ‘THEIR” problems. I hope next time someone from ‘UNZEREH” will have the courage to stand up and speak about their child who is a substance abuser. It’s not just “them” it’s US too.
Thank you for making this available to those of us who were unable to make it!
Scary scary scary
Thank you for the awareness
Real change has to also come from the hanhalas of yeshivos, who need to approach farbrengens properly. As was mentioned in the talk, if you can keep kids away from alcohol until 20, they are in a much better position to not develop addiction. Sadly though, there isn’t a loud voice in yeshiva discouraging drinking. The message is – a little bit is fine. It’s not!! Not for teenagers!! We need to take a grassroots approach to changing a deeply imbedded part of our culture that is hurting too many kids!! When the Frierdiker Rebbe heard that smoking was dangerous,… Read more »
Internet addiction is rampant ! The problem is that even those who aren’t addicted are also viewing inappropriate things! Children and adults are wasting time , seeing things and interacting with people that the previous generation would stay far away from! Unfortunately we are becoming immune. The rabbonim are screaming against it and we have to listen! There are good filters and if need be keep it out of the house!
Besides for a filter, I also have Covenant Eyes/Web Chaver, where EVERY single thing done on the phone is sent in weekly email to someone. If it’s deleted there the other person is alerted (but it can’t be deleted without a code anyway). On iPhone – SUPER IMPORTANT to block all browsers so that just the covenant eyes browser works – otherwise you’re paying for absolutely nothing. And also to block any other apps that can be harmful. Make sure to watch the instructions so that you really are doing what you want it to do. Yes, it does cost.… Read more »
Where do I turn to for help with internet addiction? I feel like im drowning…
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?
Thank you for posting this
A big thank you to all the organisers behind the scenes and in front for bringing this much needed serious matter being brought out into the open. Too many tradgedies but as the Rebbe always taught us let’s build on these awful family experiences and don’t be scared to educate educate educate and support support support. If I can do anything from over the ocean count me in. Never stop empathising with each and everybody and family, each is a yochid! Besurois toivois
They don’t work!!! I bought an expensive filter and 6 months later I found out my child managed to go around it and her innocence and yiras shamayim was shattered. Children need to learn how to use the internet safely. Schools and work need the internet and it isn’t going away.
I was moved from o tears! Thank you for sharing. May Hash m heal your family & our community!
So grateful for this
the lack of REAL solutions is ; the young people that have fried their brains rachmono litzlon is the tragedy almost all the suicides were POST rehab, or therapy, sometimes even the court system. ” hatzad hashove .. shedarkan lehazik ushmirasan olecho”
Some people don’t know ….but Eli Hecht (from itchkes shteeble) was a major driving force behind this event
thank you from the bottom off our hearts …
you (and your shul) are a great asset to our community …
please keep up the good work
Looks like an incredible event. Kol hakavod to all the organizers. P.s If everyone would have filters there wouldn’t be anything to talk about! I truly feel so, so blessed and fortunate that my husband doesn’t have a smartphone. And having upgraded (yes, most definitely an upgrade!) from having a filter free phone to one with a filter, changes so much. So if we all would listen to our rabbonim and do the right thing (I recently heard a Rav say that someone who has a filter free phone is ‘possul l’aidus’) – besides for bringing more Bracha into your… Read more »
Kazi A”H has an amazing family…this is real real yichus…please recognize your incredible qualities and tremendous asset to the community no matter where you have come from originally…. In the place where baalei teshuva stand even complete tzadikim can’t stand…..thanks so so much for organizing this informative event that will iyh bring the blessings of a truly good life to so many in our community and beyond! May we be reunited with all our departed loved ones without delay!
You helped all those who were not able to be there.
Thanks
פעולה נמשכת.we need more information how
To deal,or to help those in need.very important
To open in crown heights rehabilitation center,
With professional team,”עניי עירך קודמים ” we
Start mivtzaim And shlicot in our community.
Thanks for all the organization thats involved.
ישר כח !
I wasn’t able to make it to the event. I am so glad you posted this. All the speakers were amazing. May Kazi’s neshama have an aliyah, along with the others who left us so young.
Great job on this event; Perhaps you can put a list of resources for those who need that they can reach out to professionals
thank you!!!!!!
Thank you for making this available on line
About internet addiction too. Everyone had smartphones, everyone can access everythjng and no one would ever know.