By Morris Malakoff, JTNews Correspondent
[Editor’s note: The date for the first AA meeting has been changed from June 26 to June 24.]
The pain of substance abuse and addiction is one not often consciously associated with the Jewish community. But there are no studies or surveys that show it is any less prevalent within that community than it is in the general population.
“That perception actually creates a large amount of denial within the community,” said Eve Ruff, Addiction Recovery Coordinator for Jewish Family Service. “But the issue does exist and unfortunately, that denial means that individuals and families often seek help when the person is much deeper into their addiction than they would have been.”
Ruff came to her position in late March as JFS established the “Alternatives to Addiction” program with significant start-up funding and support from local philanthropists Ken and Marleen Alhadeff, the Employees Community Fund of Boeing-Puget Sound and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
The program is set to specifically assist Jewish families and individuals with abuse issues. Services of many types are envisioned as eventually being available, with some free and others on a sliding scale, much like the fee schedule in place for other counseling programs at JFS.
Ruff is quick to point out that the program is set up to deal with drugs and alcohol, and not with some of the other addictions that afflict people in all communities.
“We are not equipped at the current time to help with addictions such as gambling or sex or food,” she said.
The “Alternatives to Addiction” program is not a treatment program; it is part of the family counseling programs at JFS.
“We are here to help with interventions, assessments, and counseling,” said Ruff. “We are able to act a resource and liaison with various professionals and programs in the community if those are appropriate to the person involved.”
She also sees her primary role as one of working with facilities such as treatment centers and treatment professionals to ensure that they are sensitive in addressing the cultural issues that face Jews as they progress through treatment.
Ruff and her supervisor, JFS Clinical Services Director Steve Morris, both said that this program is critical in this particular community because, statistically, as many as 2,600 individuals and their families may be dealing with the issues that come with addiction.
“In many cases, a Jewish person may not feel comfortable approaching a group or treatment option in the general community,” said Morris. “This gives them an alternative that is within a more culturally sensitive setting.”
To that end, JFS is working to start an Alcoholics Anonymous group at JFS, beginning on the evening of Tues., June 24. The meeting is specifically for members of the Jewish community, a service that has seen at least some demand in the past year.
Still in the planning stages, Ruff said that she currently is seeking a secretary for the meetings, an integral part of the organization and operation of an AA group. Interested individuals should contact her directly.
Ruff said that in addition to acting as a starting point for families and individuals seeking assistance, she envisions her role in the community as also an educator and resource for the entire community.
“I am planning on making myself available to groups and schools for educational purposes,” she said. “I also am beginning to contact the rabbis throughout the community to make them aware of our programs and services.”
Ruff said she is actively seeking opportunities to address all types of groups and gatherings in the community about the issues surrounding chemical dependency, and the impact it has not only on the lives of individuals, but also on their families and the greater community.
“Community outreach is as large a part of this program as the individual intake is,” she said.
Ruff, a Seattle resident since 1979, comes to JFS after a year spent working at Swedish Hospital in a similar position. Prior to that, she worked for a number of years as a medical librarian for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Both Ruff and Morris say that the immediate challenge to the Alternatives to Addiction program is getting the word out about the availability of the services provided, and inducing those who are impacted by substance abuse to contact Ruff.
“Anyone [needing help is encouraged to] contact me directly,” she said. “It is taking that first step that is the most critical.”
For more information about Jewish Family Service’s addiction recovery services, please contact program coordinator Eve Ruff at [email protected] or 206-861-8782.