As the Gaza war rages, a silent epidemic of drug and alcohol abuse threatens Israel’s youth.
In the heart of Israel, where the echoes of war reverberate daily, another crisis is unfolding in the shadows—one that strikes at the very core of the nation’s youth. Yoni, a 19-year-old from Beersheba, had plans to serve his country in the military, a path chosen by many young Israelis. But those plans were derailed when he found himself spiraling into drug addiction, a struggle that worsened dramatically after Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7.
Yoni’s story is not unique. In the chaotic aftermath of that day, health professionals across Israel have observed a disturbing trend: a sharp rise in drug and alcohol abuse, along with other addictive behaviors. These aren’t just isolated incidents; they signal a growing epidemic, fueled by the relentless stress and trauma of war.
For Yoni, who lost a close friend in the Hamas attack that ignited the current Gaza war, drugs became a way to escape the harsh realities around him. “After the war, it seemed to really get worse,” he admits. What started as recreational use turned into a desperate means of coping, a common response among many who find themselves overwhelmed by grief and fear.
Dr. Shaul Lev-Ran, a psychiatrist and the founder of the Israel Center on Addiction, has witnessed this alarming trend firsthand. “We’ve seen a spectacular rise in the consumption of various addictive substances,” he says, attributing this spike to the emotional toll of living in a war zone. A study conducted by his team found a 25% increase in the use of addictive substances, from prescription medications to illegal drugs and alcohol. This surge is directly linked to the trauma of the October 7 events, which left deep scars on the Israeli psyche.
The numbers are staggering. According to the study, one in four Israelis has increased their use of addictive substances since the war began, a sharp rise from the pre-war figure of one in seven. And this isn’t just about substance abuse. The study also identified a worrying increase in other forms of addictive behavior, such as gambling, as people search for any means to distract themselves from the horrors of war.
The situation is even more dire for those who were closest to the violence. Survivors of the October 7 attack, along with those displaced from their homes near the Gaza border or in the north near Lebanon, are at the highest risk. For them, the proximity to trauma translates directly into an increased likelihood of falling into addiction.
But the crisis doesn’t end with substance abuse. The use of sleeping pills and painkillers has also skyrocketed, with increases of 180% and 70%, respectively. Dr. Lev-Ran recounts the case of a man who, in the midst of the war, demanded something—anything—to help him sleep while his son fought in Gaza. This desperate need for relief is a common thread running through the stories of many Israelis, who are turning to drugs and alcohol to dull the edges of their anxiety and fear.
Even those on the front lines aren’t immune. Matan, a soldier stationed in the Palestinian territories, admits that using drugs helps him “forget” the harsh realities of war. This sentiment is echoed by many of his comrades, who find solace in substances that temporarily mask their pain.
For Yoni, the descent into addiction was swift. What began as taking “party drugs like ecstasy, MDMA, LSD” to stave off boredom and fear soon escalated into a solitary habit, a private battle fought within the confines of his home. It was only when he hit rock bottom that Yoni realized the depth of his problem and sought help, entering rehab in a bid to reclaim his life.
Now, Yoni is determined to recover and fulfill his original goal of serving in the military. “I need to go to rehab,” he says with conviction, “to prove to myself, prove to the family, that I am indeed capable of more, and [can] contribute to the community like everyone else.”
As Israel continues to grapple with the physical and emotional toll of the Gaza war, the country faces a looming epidemic of addiction. It’s a crisis that threatens to undermine the resilience of a nation already pushed to its limits by conflict. The question now is whether Israel can confront this hidden battle with the same resolve it has shown on the battlefield—or whether this wave of addiction will become the lasting legacy of a war that has already claimed so much
