Alcohol Abuse Is a Factor in Violent Youth Behavior in Israel
Alcohol Abuse Is a Factor in Violent Youth Behavior in Israel
May 9, 2012
BEER-SHEVA, May 9, 2012 – Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers point to alcohol abuse as a clear factor in the increasingly violent behavior among Israel’s youth.
On Saturday, May 5, a father was stabbed to death when he approached a group of youths, males and females, on the street to stop them from making noise outside of his apartment window. A few hours earlier, a 19-year-old Nazareth woman met a similar fate. Only a day later, in Rehovot, a 17-year-old died from stab wounds.
“Contrary to popular belief, research shows that problem alcohol use behavior is equally common among young boys and girls,” explains Prof. Richard Isralowitz, director of the Ben-Gurion University Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resources (RADAR) Center and a faculty member in the Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social Work. “It is a problem that can be pinned on youth regardless of their country of origin.”
Isralowitz is a past recipient of the U.S. National Institute of Drug Abuse “Distinguished International Scientist Award” for his research on substance abuse. He is also a visiting professor at Rutgers University and coordinates student exchange programs with BGU that enable students to live, study, volunteer in communities in need, and earn college credit while immersed in Israeli culture.
Research on the problem in Israel, conducted by Prof. Isralowitz and his RADAR Center colleague Dr. Alexander Reznik, shows problem alcohol use — including binge drinking of five or more drinks on a single occasion — correlates to what a youth does with his or her time: hanging around during the day when not in school or work; hanging around pubs or cafes or just on the streets for a lack of anything to do; a decline in relations with family members; and getting into fights with peers.
“More young people drink alcohol than use other drugs or smoke tobacco,” Isralowitz says. “Underage drinking is costing Israel millions in financial losses stemming from violent behavior, criminal activity and traffic fatalities that threaten the well-being of Israel and its people.”
He continues, “Curbing underage drinking is an uphill battle because alcohol is readily available and age restrictions on purchase are loosely enforced. Studies show that youths are very capable of obtaining alcohol and many parents ignore or underestimate both the extent of the problem and their own children’s alcohol consumption habits.”
ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. David Ben-Gurion envisioned that Israel’s future would be forged in the Negev. The cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University drives that vision by sustaining a desert Silicon Valley, with the “Stanford of the Negev” at its center. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU’s remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.
About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev embraces the endless potential we have as individuals and as a commonality to adapt and to thrive in changing environments. Inspired by our location in the desert, we aim to discover, to create, and to develop solutions to dynamic challenges, to pose questions that have yet to be asked, and to push beyond the boundaries of the commonly accepted and possible.
We are proud to be a central force for inclusion, diversity and innovation in Israel, and we strive to extend the Negev’s potential and our entrepreneurial spirit throughout the world. For example, the multi-disciplinary School for Sustainability and Climate Change at BGU leverages over 50 years of expertise on living and thriving in the desert into scalable solutions for people everywhere.
BGU at a glance:
20,000 students | 800 senior faculty | 3 campuses | 6 faculties: humanities & social sciences, health sciences, engineering sciences, natural sciences, business & management, and desert research.
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