The Opioid Crisis Within the Hasidic Community | BK Stories 

My son died of an overdose 5/19/2020. He had an amazing personality. Smart handsome and upbeat just like this young man. I know he was God sent.

My heart goes out to the parents. Losing a child I can only imagine is a devastating experience. I’m sure you are very loving parents and everything you did for him was out of love. Thank you for having the courage to speak out to try and prevent this tragedy from happening to someone else. My daughter has also struggled w/ addiction and is on the road to recovery. God bless you.

What wonderful parents, so sorry for their great loss .

I’m sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing.

Drugs are in every sector of society and easy to get on any corner

Losing a child is like being hit by a tidal wave. The grief washes over you and sweeps you away. You will stand again, but you will never be the same. The loss is so overwhelming.

What a wonderful family. It's heartbreaking that this young man died. The parents are amazing. I am so very sorry for their loss.

The poor parents. The dad's eyes are so sad :(

Good to speak uplike that. You did a great job. Sincere condolances on your loss.

No parents should ever go through this! Sorry for your loss ❣️

What brave parents to share their son's story. They will help and save so many others. 😭🙏

My condolences to you and your family. I cannot imagine what it's like to go through something like that.

they are so conscious about it, is so nice that they allowed the media to use their story to warn others

Wonderful people and courageous parents!

I'm so sorry for your terrible loss and pain.

So sad. I’m speechless. Can’t comprehend the pain. Bless you for speaking up. Keeping quiet doesn’t make thinks go away❤️❤️❤️

My rabbi works with Hasidic boys who have drug problems, it’s sad to see that this a problem but I’m glad to see that they’re starting to get help

I can't imagine your pain. May Kosriel's memory be for a blessing and through you may it prevent others from going down the same path. Kol hakavod. I wish you all long life.

Such a nice young man and dignified parents.

10 children! Bless you ! So sorry for your loss, how heartbreaking, sending love

I’m so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

I applaude this couple that they had the courage to speak about this tight knit community.

Please be aware that Narcan will NOT help if the OD is benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium...) alone. It can help in cases of mixed substance abuse by reversing the opiate involved. May G-d comfort your family.

Beautiful young guy. Too sad....poor family. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Condolences to you on the loss of your son. Such a nightmare. As a mum, this is my biggest fear. May God keep our children safe from temptation and make them able to resist what comes before them. And may Kasriel's Soul rest in God's perfect peace, amen. Condolences 🙏🏾

Sorry to hear your loss. Such tragedy

Many years ago I had a connect who came from a chasidic community. He lived on the outskirts, between the chasids and the Spanish community. This is back before the Crack epidemic had begun. We were freebasing at the time, (how far back is that now? ). This guy had pharmacuetical coke, the best I had ever seen, before and since. (I've long given up drugs at this point in life), but that's another story... I was floored when I walked through and saw Chasidic Jews sitting on a sagging beat up couch freebasing, graffiti in Yiddish and Hebrew all over the walls. I had never given it a thought, that Chasidics are the same as everyone else, same strengths and weaknesses. I must say that I DID think about how much more difficult recovery could be for them. So it goes, we're all just Human.

You are amazing parents! You are strong yet you surely suffer. Thank you for being so forward and open. You will help someone you don’t know….you shall surely save a life. Thank you!

It takes a lot of courage to talk about it. At the end of the day the parents go sleep with the hole in their hearts. And no, I don't think it's your fault, I don't think you're a failure. I am confident that you everything you can as a & as parents did the best you can to make him happy. Shana Tova! Hugs n kisses!!

My heart goes out to this family! Addiction is such a consuming, evil, terrible, destroying thing. Thank you for sharing your story to help others. You are NOT failures. Your Son was raised to know right from wrong and he was an adult. He was loved. He made a choice. Praying for you and your family. May you find comfort in your beautiful memories of him. We must teach our children about drugs and explain they can be severely addicted from the very first time. My cousin was lost to addiction.

Good bless you and your family. You seem like such wonderful people. He was luck to have such amazing family.

I’m sorry for your loss.

Poor parents sorry for you Thank you for sharing to bring awareness of problem

All groups are affected Thanks for sharing -sorry for your loss -Thumbs up

Thank you for sharing!

I'm so sorry for your loss. May you find peace in your grief.

So sorry for your loss. I don't know why I am always so surprised at the drug problem in Hasidic families. It's a tough lifestyle for some.

Loving people. Very sorry for your loss

Bless Them and Thiers -Heartbreaking.

I’m a retired Psychiatric Social Worker, specialized in Substance Abuse, for 30 years. I had three young men on my caseload of forty, who are Jewish from Crown Heights. I was so surprised, because it is rare to have patients of the Jewish faith. Like the father said, ADDICTION DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE. One of the young men informed me that they do have drug treatment centers within the Jewish Community, but it’s very “hush-hush.” The reason he came to our Program was because he did not want his community to know he was addicted. I am glad that the Benjamins are speaking up, and that more people are speaking up within the Jewish Community.

Sad, may god bless y’all

My condolences to them.

This almost happened to my brother. I walk in at the right time. He was essentially bleeding from the face, and he started choking on throw-up, and stopped responding. Right away i turn him over, and pat his back. I also called the AMR's right away... Imagine if i wasn't there : (.. it's very scary....

So sad, and Yes, put the Shame aside and Lets talk.

Wow, I would of never thought these problems would hit that Hasadic community. God rest his soul! What a strong family. Hopefully one day these problems are no longer with us. I personally have known people who have died from Heroin. Your family is strong, It is not your fault. I hope you have found peace.

I’m always shocked when I hear these terrible problems are in the Hasidic, Amish, insular religious communities. These communities just seem like they’re free from society’s terrible problems. May God bless this family. I’m so sorry for their loss.

sorry for your loss may he rest in peace

10 children wow bless you

These poor people 😭

Condolences to the parents

Excellent

Having been around heroin addiction for 25 years+, it is very rare that anyone overdoses on heroin alone. It is normally someone who has been abusing other drugs at the same time when an overdose happens. Mainly alcohol or benzo's (or other prescription medication) or most of the time, both these drugs, and then they have the heroin on top. In my past experience, it is usually, mainly alcohol, that is the lethal concoction on top of opiates that creates an overdose.

To the Benjamin family, our deepest condolences for the loss of your beloved son. May his name be blessing to you. I’m Australian and the government decided to make all drugs containing codiene prescription only at the beginning of last year2018. It’s a pain in the butt having to see your GP every time you get a headache but it saved me praise God. I was addicted to that evil stuff for 25 years. Now I’m free of the codiene. Again I praise God. You are right in saying there is such shame involved. I’m a grandmother a mother of three and a Bible believing Christian. I believe the only reason I survived was the Grace of God. I don’t miss them thank the Lord and just have Advil for headaches as Tylenol disagrees with me. Keep up the excellent work you are doing in telling your sons story. No one wakes up one day and thinks “Hmm today I’ll become an addict. It is insidious and evil. And if the government hadn’t just changed the law, I’d still be on them as would many other people here. I believe the UK has the same restrictions too. I pray your work is a great success in your community. Isn’t it sad something awful has to happen before people sit up and decide to do something about it? Shalom to you and your family, Shalom to your community, Shalom to Israel and always Shalom for Jerusalem.♥️

You know you are obsessed with parrots when you spent 90% of the video worrying about whether the budgie she was carrying at the beginning was left in that tiny cage or got a proper setup later on.

This amazing young man had incredible life journey as well as life purpose✨💜

I applaud you both for your heartfelt honesty. Thankyou for sharing it. NZ.

I am sorry for your lost

What a loss 😢

Sorry for your loss. Well done for speaking up.

Ah, bless these parents.

Sorry for your loss. May he RIP 🙏

I am so sorry for their loss - every parent's worry, that an adult child on the brink of their whole life dies - one of the saddest ages to lose a child. I talk to my 5 about drugs. They know I take nothing, not even a headache pill, not even a contraceptive pill - nothing. Not surprisingly I am never ill. Keep it natural and you cannot go far wrong.

The parents should not feel shame. This can happen to anybody any any situation or circumstance. Drugs affect all levels and types of societies. Education is always the way but unfortunately there will always be experimentation.

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Addiction hits everyone in some way

Just people it affects everyone and it does not matter who u r

He was in pain. Now he isn't but all who loved him are in pain.

Very sad. I feel your pain. God Bless

May Allah give his parents peace and grant him eternal rest. Ameen

Very sad rip

My heart is breaking for you and your family

They are not Hasidic but Hasidic or not, we are all people. We fall, we stand, we are weak or strong, people are people, imperfect humans.

They seem nice people

Now Dr. Sandra Bermans 16 year old son is found dead in his bedroom. Just so devastating. When will this end.

This is such a powerful story. People are people and can become addicted to substances no matter their age, race, or religious background. We are all at risk.

We don't hear anything about this on television. Wonder why?🤐🤔☻

The thing about growing up in big families is that if you're a good child, your parents usually ignore you. They're too busy doing other things.

They show one family that lost a son, how does this equate to a "crisis" in the Hasidic community? Poor journalism.

Zero accountability of the parent’s! We are holy, pious, righteous, how did this happen to us?

I,m sorry for their loss. But people who live in isolated neighborhoods tend to believe that they are immune from societies ills. The orthodox Jewish communities have the same ills as everyone else, you just don't hear about it. Drug abuse can be found anywhere, even in rich neighborhoods.

May your Beautiful son have eternal peace in Heaven.!

We must ask why people taking drugs?

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's all just such a terriable accident. Im sure you were great parents and he just got cought up in some things he did not understand could kill him, its an easy thing to get cought up in, i was prescribed it and for awhile i was on it and had to get off because i knew i was addicted so i switched medications and got off. Im sure it was just an accident with your son. Im so sorry. God speed.

The question is WHY

This was very very painful to watch. May Allah / Hashem make your journey easier

Bless their hearts 🕉️☸️✝️🔯🇺🇲🕊️❤️

So very very upsetting bless you ✝

0:08 "I am a hasidic housewife" These people dont dress like hasidic jews, the woman does not cover her hair and wears makeup, they have access to the internet, no mezuzah are seen in their house. Her statement seems to go against all signs of hasidic jews.

i live in place where drug sellers can push sell drugs & i've seen many good people destroyed,become hero to zero just because of drugs !! one of my friend commit suicide for drugs.its everywhere please be careful dear ....ধন্যবাদ... thanks

VERY UNHAPPY PEOPLE IN THAT LIFE THE CRISIS OF DRUGS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE. TGE SECRETS ARE HELD THE WAY THEY REPRESS THE FEMALES THE CHILDREN THE PAIN HELD INSIDE IS JUST TORTURE THE HASIDIC COMMUNITY NEEDS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO DO REAL THERAPY TO HELP

Really sad

RIP///

The thing about drug use that never gets discussed is alcohol. Many, many people start taking illegal drug when they are drunk. If they weren't drunk, they'd be less likely to use drugs. Well, wouldn't children be less likely to get drunk if their parents didn't drink? *Stop exposing your children to drunk family members, people!*

Kasriel is a beautiful name. What does it mean?

Hisidics be the best plugs

Might be he got involved with the wrong type of "friends."

Wow, this shocked me. I don't know why for some reason I just thought that Jewish kids behaved. Stereotype, yeah. I know. Either way, I am so sorry about what happened to this family.n

Wow!! Netflix should make a movie about this. Shalom ✡️ Watching from London UK 🇬🇧

Addiction sees no race sex or creed. Sorry for your loss