“To me, addiction is a cancer. Because I don’t believe that cancer can be beaten. I don’t believe addiction can be beaten. But it CAN be put into remission.”— Randy Eckler

How do you solve a problem that you aren’t ready to admit exists?

When it comes to alcohol and substance addiction, the problem of denial isn’t confined to the person suffering the addiction. Denial can affect their friends, their family… and their religious community.

The stereotype that Jewish people do not drink or do drugs may seem like a positive one, but it masks the very real issues that many Jews face. It makes it more challenging for them to step forward and ask for the help that they need, as well as for the people around them to acknowledge their struggles.

This episode of the Living Jewishly Podcasts is an instalment of Crossing the Sea, a podcast about Judaism and mental health. In this episode, Dr. Elliot Malamet speaks with David Kaufman, an addictions counsellor at the Jewish Addiction Community Services, and his client, Randy Eckler, about the nature of addiction and Randy’s personal struggle with addiction and path to recovery.

Randy’s story is not a happy one, but it’s valuable one.

“I hit rock bottom three times… there’s nothing that I could do to take anything back that I’ve done. All I can do is be a better person, be a better example.”— Randy Eckler

This‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌

• The root causes and symptoms of addiction and how they are misunderstood
• The recovery process, including the four important steps
• How Randy emerged from hitting rock bottom three times to become a teacher who is helping others overcome their own addictions

‌Highlights:‌ ‌

00:52 Introduction

02:13 Jewish sobriety myth

04:21 Root issues of addiction

05:42 Degrees of personal responsibility

07:23 Keys to recovery

10:00 Rock bottom & bringing the bottom up

11:03 Randy’s story

18:14 The recovery experience

21:28 Parenthood & enabling addiction

27:00 Randy’s experience hiding use

28:51 Conclusion

Links:‌ ‌

Great Falls by Richard Ford

https://granta.com/great-falls

Jewish Addiction Community Services

https://jacstoronto.org

How to Be a Jewish Recovery Ally

https://jaanetwork.org/pdf/JAN_InfoSheet_m1.pdf

To get in contact or learn more about Living Jewishly:

Visit‌ ‌our ‌website: https://livingjewishly.org

Follow us on Instagram: @living.jewishly

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO2YEegjapKpQeXG6zh6tzw

or send us an email at hello@livingjewishly.org.

Shalom!