A 50% jump in drinking alcohol among teenagers during the war

28% of the youth consumed alcohol during the war, an increase of about 50% compared to the same period last year, said Itai Cohen from the Israeli Center for Addictions in a discussion held today (Tuesday) by the special committee in the Knesset for the fight against drug and alcohol use. It also came up in the discussion about the increase in addictions among teenagers following the war, that 28% of teenagers consume porn, 15% of them gamble, and 9% of them smoke cannabis.

The Roth-Itach Foundation, director of the Department of Aid and Prevention Programs at the Ministry of Education, presented additional data on the mental distress of the youth following the war: 53% reported psychosomatic symptoms compared to 46% last year, 45% on mental symptoms, and 30% on at least physical symptoms Once a day for the last four months. More than half of the youth who felt mental distress did not seek help. These data were collected in an internet survey conducted by Prof. Yossi Harel-Fish and Prof. Sophie Walsh from Bar Ilan University among students in grades 7-12, and did not include evacuated students.

“We are still at the tip of the iceberg,” Roth-Itach said. It should be remembered that the events of October 7 came after the Corona years. However, we see an increasing trend in the youth’s sense of belonging and connectedness to the schools, which are a factor of resilience. Parents are in the first place as an important and significant factor for the youth. So is the community involvement of the youth – 65% of them are involved.

Amit Perelson from the Elam Association: “30% of the youth who are evacuated from their homes consume alcohol. This is an increase of more than 10% from December last year.” According to him, there is an increase in the use of cannabis and the participation of teenagers in nature parties. Despite the awareness, in moments of mental distress, alcohol is an easy and accessible solution for youth.