Rabbis and drug experts believe that drug overdoses led to six deaths in the past year in Brooklyn's Orthodox communities. In an attempt to cracking down on the brisk drug trade, police have begun recruiting Orthodox men to act as undercover buyers. These were not dime bags. . . . . The buyers were Orthodox. Some of the roots of the problem are typical, such as broken homes and wild friends.
Misery seeks company and they have begun to find it.
While most of his peers leave school around 3 p.m., most Orthodox sects require that children stay at their classes until 8 o'clock many nights. Those from the most observant groups may not date and must pray three times daily. Kids want to have what other kids have. Despite the obvious signs, drug abuse has remained a hushed topic in these communities. We need to teach them that it is just as imperative not to snort cocaine as it is to not eat a ham sandwich.