Since October 7, 2023, people in Israel have experienced a significant increase in mental health struggles — and alongside that, a rise in addiction, according to several studies published in recent months.
Now, a research team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health says the issue extends well beyond Israel’s borders. Their latest study examines how news media reminders of collective traumatic events can influence addictive behavior — even long after the event itself has passed.
The researchers point out that people around the world are grappling with ongoing stressors including war, political polarization, terrorism, displacement, and widespread uncertainty. These conditions, they argue, can heighten existential fears that in turn shape patterns of substance use.
According to the study, exposure to collective trauma through news coverage can produce an immediate spike in cravings among people who regularly use cannabis or tobacco. The findings suggest that simply encountering reminders of a traumatic event in the media may be enough to trigger those urges.
