HAMSA (Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse) is JF&CS Jewish response to addiction. We provide recovery support and tools, to serve as the go-to resource for the Jewish community. Through a Jewish lens, we help people navigate the system of resources, ensure continuity of care for all levels of recovery, and provide excellent clinical support. Because addiction is at epidemic proportions in the Atlanta area, and other treatment options are traditionally not Jewish-informed, HAMSA is in a unique position to facilitate change and significantly impact the Jewish recovery landscape.
Individual and group therapy
Information & Referral
Jewish Sensitivity Training for Treatment Providers
Sober Holiday Celebrations & Community Events
Meeting Companions
Narcan Education and Supply
Speaker’s Bureau
Make your event inclusive for those in recovery
A deep level of shame and denial exists within many Jewish communities across the country regarding addiction. A common myth is that Jewish people do not have problems with drugs or alcohol. The reality is that alcoholism and drug addiction do not discriminate; they affect Jews as often as they do any other group. Roughly 10% of the United States population is affected by alcoholism or drug addiction. This indicates that 10% of the 5.5 million Jews living in the United States are affected by substance abuse issues. A key objective of the HAMSA program is to promote an open and honest dialogue about substance abuse within our community.
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This life-saving drug helps reverse the effects of an opiate/heroin overdose.
Join HAMSA at Temple Sinai for a night of singing, praying, and eating matzah with the HAMSA community.
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Mandy Wright is an experienced program builder and problem solver. As HAMSA Program Manager, Mandy looks to grow and deepen the service offerings for those struggling with addiction and their loved ones as well as help improve the understanding of addiction in the Jewish community. As the sister of an addict and holding a degree in Psychology, Mandy is well-acquainted with the amount of resource and support necessary to treat addiction.
“Addiction is a family disease and we are here to offer support and resources to all those impacted by it."
Sally Anderson, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has provided clinical services in the area of Substance Abuse for 7 years. Having worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, Sally loves to assist clients navigate their path to recovery by helping them find meaningful connections. Her approach to sobriety includes helping clients develop deeper insight into their addictions and working with them to gain the tools to navigate life’s challenges without alcohol or drugs. Sally uses her own experiences with recovery along with clinical interventions, to help people develop richer lives filled meaning and purpose.
Leslie Lubell joins HAMSA as the Substance Abuse Information and Referral Specialist, focusing her efforts on helping to connect addicts and their loved ones with the right resources to support their recovery. As a native Jewish Atlantan in recovery herself, Leslie brings true empathy to the job with a deep, personal understanding of the experience of substance abuse and addiction in the Jewish community.
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
#JewishAddictionIsReal
HAMSA (Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse) is a program of JF&CS Atlanta
Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta, Inc. • 4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road • Atlanta, GA 30338 • 770.677.9300
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