Elan- Helping those Affected by Addiction

Hello! My name is Elan Smyla, and I am thrilled to be part of the Jewish Teen Foundation South Board (JTF). This is my fourth year at JTF, and I am excited to apply the valuable skills I've learned about philanthropy, community service, and life in general, especially as I step into my role as the Fellow. At JTF, we carefully select a population each year to support, conducting in-depth research to identify their needs,and vetting non-profit organizations that align with our mission and values. This year, we are focusing on addressing the critical issue of substance addiction that is rampant throughout the globe.

Our mission statement for this year is: The Jewish Teen Foundation South Board is committed to supporting those affected by substance addiction through organizations/initiatives that provide education and rehabilitation services to create and sustain positive change for individuals and families.

Substance addiction casts a pervasive shadow, affecting millions globally and rivaling the impact of major health issues. This issue extends beyond individual struggles, intertwining with co-occurring mental health disorders in a complex web. Studies show that a substantial number of those grappling with addiction also have diagnosable mental disorders, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these challenges (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

The scope of this crisis is vast, reaching into families and communities, straining relationships, and imposing significant economic burdens. Despite its profound impact, a mere fraction of global healthcare budgets is allocated to mental health needs, including addiction, creating a critical gap in addressing this multifaceted problem. Substance addiction is not merely a matter of choice but a complex medical condition with biological, psychological, and social components.

Here are a few facts to shed light on the prevalence and impact of substance addiction:

• In 2017, 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder and 28% of adults battled an illicit drug use disorder
• That same year, 1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously, and approximately 1 in 25 American adolescents age 12 to 17 suffered from a substance use disorder; this equals 992,000 teens
• Drug abuse and addiction costs American society more than $740 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime
• Despite its widespread impact, only a small fraction of global healthcare budgets is allocated to address mental health needs, including addiction.

We invite you to join us in making a difference today! Every dollar will go towards carefully researched and vetted nonprofit organizations that are actively working to combat substance addiction and provide education and rehabilitation services. We will do the work, so you can rest assured your donation will have the greatest impact!

The donation deadline is April 10th, so please make sure to contribute before this date. Feel free to contact me at elansmyla@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to learn more about our mission and initiatives at JTF.

Thank you for taking the time to support people struggling with substance addiction, for helping to prevent it from happening in the first place, and for your generous donation! Together, we can create positive change for individuals and families affected by this challenging issue.