ByRENEE GARFINKEL

We have every reason to feel proud of Israel’s remarkable success in Operation Rising Lion, the recent strike on Iran’s war machine. The mission’s careful planning and seamless coordination made it a model of military excellence. Every moving part – every person involved – knew their role and delivered on a shared objective.

That same level of strategy and coordination is urgently needed here at home. Not for a military campaign, but for the quiet, ongoing mental health battle many Israelis are facing – one that will likely continue long after the missiles stop flying.

If you’ve been following this newspaper, you’ve seen many op-eds and articles on the psychological toll of October 7 and its aftermath. I’ve written a few myself, beginning in January 2024. Since then, there has been a growing body of thoughtful writing, as well as numerous efforts – from government programs to nonprofit initiatives – offering help. Crisis hotlines were launched, treatment centers opened or expanded, and support has come from both Israelis and concerned allies abroad.

These efforts have made a real difference. But they’ve also been fragmented – operating in silos rather than as part of a cohesive national response. That lack of coordination limits their effectiveness and leaves too many people behind.

In a recent article (The Jerusalem Post, June 20), Gila Tolub made a compelling case for a government-led strategy to address PTSD across all sectors – healthcare, education, and social services. She’s right. We need a national framework, built on evidence-based treatment, to respond to this crisis in a unified way.

Let’s zoom in on just one aspect of this broader mental health challenge, one that has worsened dramatically since the war: addiction.

Earlier this year, the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute released findings from a 2024 national survey on addiction risk, commissioned by the Health Ministry before the war began.

Even then, the results were startling: Israel had the highest per-capita consumption of prescription opioids in the world. Alcohol addiction affected about 15% of the population, on par with other Western nations, but still high.

Increased substance use

Since October 7, substance use has spiked. One in four Israelis reported using addictive substances in the months after the attack – a 15% increase since 2022. Prescription drug use surged: sedative use doubled, and sleeping pill use increased by 180%.

Many of those who turned to substances during the crisis will gradually reduce their use as life stabilizes. But others will not. Addiction doesn’t follow a predictable timeline. The longer the use continues, the greater the risk of dependence.

Young people are especially vulnerable. Their brains are still developing, and those exposed directly to the trauma of October 7 – evacuees, survivors, soldiers, families – are far more likely to turn to substances to manage anxiety, insomnia, and emotional distress.

The reality is clear: PTSD and addiction are not secondary issues. They are central to the well-being and resilience of our society. If we could coordinate a complex military operation with such precision, we can – and must – apply that same resolve to confronting the mental health crisis now threatening our citizens from within.

The writer, who holds a PhD in clinical psychology, hosts a podcast, The Van Leer Series on Ideas. She is a psychologist with the Tikva Helpline.