The Disease in Our Own Backyard Alcohol and drug abuse is a disease. It is a fatal illness that begins with casual or experimental use of a chemical for its mind-altering effects. It rapidly becomes an addiction, which involves loss of control over the substance or behavior, and eventually leads to self- destructiveness. Most experts in addiction consider it a disease, thereby absolving the addict of responsibility for the addiction while leaving him totally responsible for his behavior. Misbehavior and infractions of the law deserve punishment and discipline.
Illness deserves treatment.
The myth that Jews are immune to the diseases of addiction prevails, though it has been losing its credibility. The textbooks on substance abuse still cite outdated references that Jews drink more alcohol per capita than any other identified ethnic group, yet have a remarkably low rate of alcoholism. Current experience of addiction professionals does not support this contention. Drugs of abuse were once inaccessible to Orthodox Jews. Unfortunately, times have changed to our disadvantage.