Sophie Ultan: Supporting People with Addiction

Hello! I’m Sophie and I am a member of the Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF). JTF is a program that teaches a group of Jewish teens about social justice through philanthropic work. Being a part of JTF gives me the opportunity to really make a positive impact on this world and improve the lives of people in our community. Each year, we come to a consensus on a population to support for the year. We diligently research and select organizations that we feel can make a substantial impact and that align best with our mission statement. We then invite nonprofits to apply for JTF funding, and choose the mission and values-aligned organizations that successfully provide help and support to those we want to reach.

This year, our JTF south board came to a consensus to focus our efforts on supporting people with substance addiction and their families through the life-long process of recovery and rehabilitation. In California, people found in possession of drugs are fined and can be charged with up to one year in prison. Why do we treat substance users like criminals instead of people? What can we do to make substance use rehabilitation more accessible and approachable? Especially, as we have learned, substance addiction is not a choice, but a disease caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors.

Addiction is a massive problem around the world. While the science tells us that intoxication harms brain development and causes one to build up tolerance, drugs and alcohol continue to be consumed regardless of the effect it may have on the body. Substance addiction does not discriminate, and there are a combination of social v.s. biological factors that go into developing addiction. According to the NIH, substance addiction (or drug addiction) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by a recurring desire to continue taking the drug despite harmful consequences. This compulsion feels impossible to resist, and people feel forced to continue despite ruining their relationships and the positive components of their lives.

While programs like DARE have tried to educate the masses about the dangers of substance use, the opioid epidemic only continues to grow and overdoses, particularly from the fatal drug, fentanyl, have become more common. While there are several issues with how we have tried to prevent substance addiction, the way we respond to addiction is also massively problematic.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 44.4% of US incarcerations are drug related. How many of these crimes could have been avoided had we dealt with the root cause of substance use and addiction previously? Ever since the “War on Drugs”, substance use has been treated like a criminal offense, and substance addicts, as criminals. These people are taken away from their families, their support-systems, and placed in a hostile environment where they cannot safely lower their tolerance level and stop using the drug. Increased funding of rehabilitation centers and harm-reduction efforts should be the solution to a future with less drug use and lowered levels of substance addiction.

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.

Did you know?

• Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment.

• More than 70% of people who tried an illegal drug before the age of 13 have an addiction to alcohol or drugs.

• Alcohol use was responsible for 2.3 million deaths worldwide

https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/ 

So, how can we help? Look out for our loved ones and create open spaces for dialogue and processing, talk to your local officials and policy makers, support nonprofits working to support addicts and their loved ones through recovery, destigmatize people struggling with this excruciating disease.

Join us in making a difference by making a donation today! By donating to the Jewish Teen Foundation, every dollar will go directly to carefully researched and vetted nonprofit organizations that work to give support to people with substance addiction and their loved ones. No one should have to suffer alone!

My goal is to raise over $2,000 from at least 20 different donors.

Please donate by our deadline on April 10th, 2024.

Thank you so much for your generous donation and for spreading the word by sharing the link to this page with your networks!  Together, we will ensure our community is a healthier, safer, and happier place!

Please donate by our deadline on April 10th, 2024.