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But it is absurd to think there are no Jewish alcoholics or chemically dependent persons. Jewish Family Service knows better. Many of the cases they deal with are related to sub- stance abuse and addictive behaviors. Indeed, the need is strong enough that JFS has agreed to help support a new chapter of JAGS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons & Significant Others). Samuel (not his real name) knows better too. His son is a heroin addict in recovery. Samuel's story is painful. His first wife was an alcoholic. They were divorced when their two children were young; the children stayed with their mother, who died 10 years after the divorce. Samuel is convinced that alcohol was a contributing factor. "My son completed high school but dropped out his first year at the University of Michigan," Samuel says. "He told me he was a heroin addict. He wanted help. "We sent him to the Hanley- Hazeldon Treatment Center in West Palm Beach, one of the finest pro- grams in the nation. He completed the detoxification program, the treat- ment, and lived in a half-way house. He lived with us for a year and enrolled again at the University of Michigan. "He attended AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings but said he was uncomfortable because of the religious overtones. He stopped going to AA meetings. That should have been a signal for me. "He relapsed. He was gone for three days on a heroin binge, came home and once more asked for help. Again he went through a detox pro- gram, this time at the Talbott or a long time, Alcoholics Anonymous was the only game in town. However, in 1979, Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons & Significant Others (JACS) was founded by a dozen peo ple in New York, and has grown to help and support thousands in 33 cities throughout the country. The Detroit chapter was created last month. Through JAGS, recovering Jews and their families reconnect with their Jewish roots, and explore their own "step" program through the ideals of the Ten Commandments. Here are some facts about JACS: • Today more than 200 recovering Jews from every form of Judaism, including the unaffiliated, attend each semi-annual national JACS retreat, where they make personal connections with other Jews and with spiritual resources within Judaism. "They left the poli- tics outside and conducted four different services: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and one for Jews who do not attend services," said a local JACS mem- ber who attended a JACS spiritual retreat in the Catskills. • Utilizing only volunteers, JACS has supplied speakers pi Recovery Center in Atlanta. That was in December. He's been home for a short time, plans to live at home, and wants to earn a graduate degree in psychology. "He needs a support program to learn how to manage his disease and I need a support program to heal myself " Samuel spends part of his winters in Florida. He joined Al-Anon, a sup- port group of relatives and friends of alcoholics. It was there that Samuel learned about JAGS. "I attended the AA meetings, but something was missing and there were religious overtones," explains Samuel. "It was personal, but I did- n't want to sit in a church basement and I didn't want to recite the Lord's prayer. "The first JAGS meeting I attend- ed, I felt right at home. Here I was, sitting with 12 other Jews who knew how I felt. I was connected. Addiction is a family disease. It gave me serenity to stand up and hold hands at the end of the meeting recit- . to 400 Jewish day schools, synagogues and other Jewish institutions nationwide. • Nationally, JACS groups receive support from various segments of the organized Jewish community. In Detroit, Jewish Family Service has that role. JFS provides a meet ing place and other support services to the fledgling group. "We support the group 100 percent," said Sandy Hyman, director of Children, Adult and Family Services at JFS. • JACS has inspired the formation of more than 50 inde- pendent, mutual support and community education groups of Jews in recovery all over the U.S., as well as in Israel and other countries. • Unlike AA, JACS allows family members to attend meetings to allow them to participate in the recovery process. JACS has an established national Web site at www.jacsweb.com and a local hotline, (248) 559-1500, ext. 107, for any questions or concerns. The group prides itself on anonymity, as the participant says: "What you hear in here, and who you see in here, stays in here." — Leslie Zack, student intern