Gesher La’Chaim – Preventing the use of drugs

Adolescents tend to seek out new experiences, which often include experimenting with drugs.

In the past decade, there has been a significant escalation in substance abuse and violence among Israeli youth.
An estimated 40-60 thousand children between the ages of 10-18 regularly use drugs.

This increase, which is partially due to socio-economic circumstances and stress caused by the security situation, directly contributes to the rising level of crime, families in crisis and teenagers falling into the grips of substance abuse.

Gesher La’Chaim, a non-profit organization involved in the war against drugs, was established in 1999 by a group of volunteers (including academics and IDF retirees).

These founders recognized the urgent need to create drug prevention programming among teenagers who are exposed to drugs in their formative years, and need to be educated about the perils of substance abuse when they are still impressionable.

The organization’s premise is that it can be more effective if it reaches children at risk before they actually are in trouble.

Through educational activities and raising public consciousness, the volunteers at Gesher La’Chaim are striving to build a stronger and healthier society in Israel. Gesher La’Chaim is staffed by volunteers and has offices in Jerusalem and Ramat-Gan.

Gesher La’Chaim goals include:

Generating broad social involvement with confronting the drug epidemic.

Recruiting volunteers to be actively involved with the war against drugs.

Creating educational activities for the deterrence of drug use and violence.

Funding and encouraging prevention programs that will help discourage substance abuse among youth.

Expanding our activities, for more and more schools throughout Israel.

Gesher La’Chaim’s activities include:

Providing funding for lectures and performances on the topic of drug use, which are aimed at teenagers, their teachers and advisors in schools throughout Israel.

Distributing informational pamphlets dealing with the problem of substance abuse and violence to thousands of homes and schools. 

Making the public aware of the increasing drug epidemic.

Motivating youth to support each other and oppose the use of drugs.

Gesher La’Chaim relies on public support to continue its vital activities.