Written By Daniel Rafii

A couple days ago, the whole school was fortunate enough to host Professor Elan Javanfard, a Valley torah alumni, in the Beit Midrash to speak about addiction and its negative long-lasting impact. Professor Javanfard has spoken at numerous Jewish schools across the country and brought both expertise and personal connection to his talk. 

The Professor first spoke about why people get into certain addictions and what addictions do to the human mind and psyche. He then discussed how to get rid of addictions, emphasizing that his number one suggestion was to replace the addiction with a different activity, instead of just outright quitting; as he put it, “going ‘cold turkey’ never works.” A major focus of the presentation was brain development. We learned that the brain is not fully developed until age 25, making people under the age of 25 more vulnerable to addiction and making its effects more devastating. Developing addictions at a young age can be very dangerous because it can become ingrained into one’s personality. 

The professor also addressed gambling addiction, explaining that it is serious and often overlooked. He described the signs that someone may have if they are going through an addiction of this type. He spoke on the different kinds of gambling, such as gambling a few dollars between friends and trying to actively make money off of someone that you do not know. He explained that it is fine every once in a while to make a deal with a friend, which will not ruin your day if you lose. We learned that one should not try to win back lost money or allow loss to affect how he treats his loved ones. 

Professor Javanfard also spoke about drug addictions. He highlighted the risks of different kinds of smoking, such as cigarettes, vaping, and marijuana. He explained the effects of chemicals such as THC and CBD and how they can alter the body and brain. The professor also addressed the short-term and long-term effects of hallucinogens, leaving students with a clearer understanding of the serious consequences of substance abuse.