Surge in Drug and Alcohol Use Amid Mental Health Crisis in Israel
A Hebrew-language newspaper has reported an escalating mental health crisis and an unprecedented rise in the consumption of alcohol, drugs, and tranquilizers in Israeli society. Haaretz, citing a study from an Israeli center, stated that this trend has significantly intensified since the beginning of the attacks on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
According to the study, now one in every four Israeli citizens faces problematic alcohol or drug use, compared to one in ten before the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of tranquilizer pills has increased 2.5 times, and drug consumption has nearly doubled. Alcohol and marijuana use have also shown considerable growth.
The report notes that more than 54 percent of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with psychological pressures, highlighting the worsening mental health situation in this community.
Haaretz wrote that some users have stated that drug and tranquilizer use has become a common way to deal with air-raid sirens, attendance at funerals, receiving military summons, and hearing news of war casualties. It has even been reported that some individuals consume ketamine before going to shelters during bombings — a phenomenon that is no longer limited to nightclubs but has spread to homes, workplaces, and public shelters as well.
