Although Israelis of all ages are addicted to alcohol, addictive substances, opioids, and other prescription drugs – as in all countries around the world – there are only meager or no community services to treat such dependence. 

Now, after four months of studying the problem in-depth, the Health Ministry has decided for the first time to invest NIS 85 million (almost $27 million) per year through 2025 in providing such services at the community level. 

The Addiction Treatment Committee, appointed by the ministry director-general Prof. Nachman Ash – in accordance with a decision of the Ministerial Committee on Legislation — submitted its conclusions to Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz.

In the last four months, the Committee for the Advancement of the Treatment of Addictions, chaired by Ran Ridnik – head of the ministry’s regulatory division – has examined the issue in-depth and pointed out the lack of a satisfactory response to the problem and sometimes a complete lack of public services. 

Substance abuse such as drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs, or behavioral addiction is not treated at all or is not treated at all. 

“To date, the field of addictions has not received systemic, medical, economic, and managerial attention, and as a result, the responses and level of service in Israel to citizens suffering from addictions are insufficient,” the committee declared.

It recommended that a sequence of responses should be created to deal with addiction disorders and that the four public health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to which all Israelis below develop new services to produce a comprehensive therapeutic response. This will include medical prevention, early treatment, and drug treatment in the HMOs’ community clinics. 

The ministry will budget the development of the plans from 2022 to 2025 and will report annually to the government on the plan’s progress. The annual allocation will be in the state budget, following agreements among the Health Ministry, Finance Minister, and the Prime Minister’s Office, as the need to deal with the problem was part of the new government’s coalition agreement. 

Horowitz said that “addictions of various kinds are a widespread problem worldwide and in Israel. This is the first time that the state has paid significant attention and invested major resources to deal with the issue and help those suffering from addiction. The important committee presented its conclusions to me. We are taking the matter very seriously. We will act immediately for the successful implementation of the report and for the development of a continuum of responses and services that have not been the case to date.”

The program, he continued, “will provide an early and emergency response to patients dealing with addiction, prevent deterioration, and allow many more citizens to recover from the difficult situation they have found themselves in. It is a tremendous challenge, and this important program is a huge first step that will enable it to be tackled, improve the lives – and save the lives – of many Israelis.” 

Ash concluded that “the treatment of addictions in Israel today is meager, does not address the entire target population, and lacks cooperation among the various agencies involved. Our decision will bring about a significant and urgently needed change for the population that so desperately needs help.”