In her opening remarks she emphasized her concerns of drinking on Purim, often to the point of danger, at both the high school and post high school levels. There, alcohol is consumed with the consent, and even under the supervision, of school staff. Dr. Carolyn Peiser, faculty member at Midreshet Lindenbaum and a psychologist in private practice, began her presntation by distinguished between men and women.
Alcohol use is much more prevalent among men, both in the general and religious populations.
This alters the psychological meaning of drinking in each group, and when a young woman drinks, this may be indicative of much more severe problems than when a man of the same age does the same thing. Often, she continued, within the context of our students in yeshivot, problems of alcohol abuse stem from psychological issues, which are rooted in the student's first experience away from home. They are given greater independence from home, while they still carry with them whatever concerns and problems they face in their homes, be it an illness, parental marital problems, or anything else. Dr. Peiser distinguished between three categories of drinking. Some students drink innocently, perhaps buying one beer with friends to celebrate a birthday.