Operation Survival launched an awareness campaign to increase knowledge amongst Crown Heights Jewish residents about the risks and dangers of prescription opioids and drug abuse.
A short video has been produced as a call to action for people to openly discuss the dangers of opioids, keep their prescription drugs in a locked cabinet, and safely dispose of any unused prescriptions. The video demonstrates just how easy it is to overdose.
Thousands of informational brochures are being distributed in Crown Heights. These brochures are designed to educate parents on some of the reasons why teens turn to drug abuse and the possible signs and symptoms to look out for if you suspect your child is using drugs.
Operation Survival is also offering free naloxone training in the community. Naloxone blocks or reverses the effects of opioid overdose.
“Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death for Americans under age 50. In recent years, drug overdoses killed more people than gun violence or car crashes. We need to do more to stop this epidemic.” said Rabbi Shea Hecht, chairman of the board of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education.
“Some people still tend to think of drug use as an ‘outside problem’, but the reality is that addiction doesn’t discriminate. It occurs in every community, and we can’t afford to ignore the problem,” said Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, program director of Operation Survival.
The awareness campaign was launched in partnership with State Senator Jesse Hamilton. “Knowledge is power,” he said. “In the face of the exponential growth of opioid abuse, it is critical that everyone gets to learn about the best defenses. Waiting for more people to die is not an option. If not now, when?”
VIDEO:
TYVM, but the video only talks about mistakingly taking an extra pill of one’s prescription. Is every prescribed pain killer considered an opioid? Is doubling it once, by one pill, enough to kill someone – an otherwise drug free, healthy person? (That’s the message of the video.)
I hope the pamphlets say more than this 10 second video says. For someone like me (intelligent, mid life generation) it really doesn’t explain much.
Dont you think the videovshd say how to safely dispose? Flushing contaminates the water system and affects us all.
Rabbi JJ a”h, Michoel Behrman a”h for all their dedicated work.
Thank you for Rabbi Shea & Yaakov Behrman and their team for continuing this vital work !
Let’s heal our community together!
I believe it was Rabbi JJ Hecht who had the foresight on this. He knew this would eventually hit the community long before anyone was willing to admit to it. And Michoel Behrman a”h made the program happen. This does not take away any credit from the above-mentioned people, who have carried on this
vital work.
To Shea Hecht (who was way ahead of the curve on this tragic threat) and Yaacov Behrman (who is carrying on his beloved Father’s dedication to helping others) and Jesse Hamilton (a big Mentch). May Hashem grant them immediate tremendous success so there this devastation – that doesn’t care what your last name is – will end.