From the Streets to the Yeshivas: Substance Use Among Hassidic Adolescents

1. From the Streets to the Yeshivas: Substance Use Among Hassidic Adolescents Charles Schaeffer Department of Applied Psychology New York University

2. Acknowledgements • Dr. Jacqueline Mattis • Dr. Gigliana Melzi • Adina Schick • Dalal Katsiaficas, Latisha Morrell, and Theresa Matos.

3. Drug Use in the U.S. • 10.6% of the nation (2.7 million) are current illicit drug users (SAMSHA, 2004). • Various newspapers report increases in at-risk adolescent behaviors in various communities across the U.S., including the most religious (NY Times, Jewish Action Network). • Although there is no reliable quantitative data, community clinicians estimate that numerous people within Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities have drug-related issues (Twerski, 1997).

4. Adolescent Drug Use • Four factors consistently emerge from the literature: • Relationships with peers and family • Neighborhood ecology • Lack of knowledge about drug use • Maladaptive coping

5. Adolescent Drug Use • Four factors consistently emerge from the literature: • Relationships with peers and family * - Parenting with high protection and monitoring - Lack of parental emotional support - Socialization with drug using peers • Four factors consistently emerge from the literature: • Relationships with peers and family * - Parenting with high protection and monitoring - Lack of parental emotional support - Socialization with drug using peers *Adalbjarnardottir & Hafsteinsson, 2001; Myers, Newcomb, Richardson & Alvy, 1997

6. Adolescent Drug Use • Four factors consistently emerge from the literature: • Neighborhood ecology * - Social disorganization - High crime and poverty rate - Vicinity to illicit drug dealers and trade routes *Bell, Carlson & Richard, 1998; Mason, Cheung & Walker, 2004

7. Adolescent Drug Use • Four factors consistently emerge from the literature: • Lack of knowledge about drug use * - Misunderstanding effects of drug use - Underestimating rate of dependency - False expectations about drug use * Wagner & Anthony, 2002; Yen, Yang & Chong, 2006

8. Adolescent Drug Use • Four factors consistently emerge from the literature: • Maladaptive coping * - Self-medication of anxiety disorder symptoms - Internalization of behaviors - Avoidant coping behaviors * Carrigan & Randall, 2003; Khantzian, 1985; Klee & Reid, 1998

9. Hassidic Communities • Hassidism is a form of Ultra-Orthodox Judaism which dates back to the 18th century, emphasizing spirituality, faith, warmth, heartfelt prayer and love of G-d. • The psychosocial characteristics of Ultra-Orthodox Hassidic adolescent life include: * • Accountability for one’s own actions • Immense religiosity, involving religious and spiritual reflection • Daily prayer and increased scriptural studies • Specific and segregated gender norms and roles * Meijers, 1986; Mintz, 1992; Rubin, 1997

10. Psychosocial Parallels • There are parallels between characteristics of Hassidic adolescent life and the potential risk factors associated with drug use. * • Parenting styles marked with high protection and monitoring • Lack of knowledge about drug use • Internalized behaviors and coping skills • Communities located adjacent to high crime areas * Meijers, 1986; Mintz, 1992; Rubin, 1997

11. Study Objectives • Two main questions will guide the current qualitative study: • What are the reasons for illicit drug use among Ultra-Orthodox Hassidic adolescents? • How do these reasons compare with the risk factors associated with the general population?

12. Setting • The current study will take place in the Ultra-Orthodox Satmar and Ger communities located in Brooklyn, NY. • Partial participant-observation will be employed as an assistant counselor in at-risk centers. • Partial participant-observation will lead to extensive field notes and informant selection for in-depth ethnographic interviews.

13. Researchers’ Stance • Two primary researchers (matched by gender) will gain access to adolescents in the community. • Researchers will be of Conservative Jewish heritage. • Because they will be members of the same religion as the participants, it will be for easier for the community to identify with them. • Some bias may be present in interpreting the data, due to the researchers’ familiarity and prior conceptualizations of the Jewish culture.

14. Informant Interviews • Twelve Hassidic adolescents (6 females, 6 males), ranging in age from 16 – 18 will participate in the study. • Each informant will participate in 3 one-hour interviews over the course of one year. • Interviews will be comprised of open-ended questions that probe motivations for drug use. • All interviews will be conducted by a primary researcher of matched gender. • Interviews will be audio-taped.

15. Sample Prompts • Interview prompts and questions will be based upon an open-targeted ethnographic methodology (Spradley, 1979). • What is your life like within the community? • What do you know about drug use in your community? • How is drug use viewed in your community?

16. Data Analysis • Interview transcripts and field notes will be triangulated back to informants before coding. • Analyses will employ open and axial coding of field notes and transcribed informant interviews. • Coding will be conducted by an outside team of two trained assistants working independently to identify narrative themes (Miles & Huberman, 1994).

17. Potential Results and Conclusions • Results from the current study will: • Create a preliminary discourse about the motivations that lead to drug use even within the most religious groups. • Assist in the development of culturally effective programs for Hassidic adolescent interventions and recovery groups. • Better inform the community about the prevalence and motivations for drug use. • Foster future studies within this and other under-represented cultural groups within the psychological literature.

18. Thank YouQuestions?