I Joined a Criminal Gang in the 8th Grade—This is How I Got Out

When SGT A.’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, his life was turned upside down. He started smoking, consuming hard drugs and he joined one of the largest criminal gangs in the country. He dealt with the pain through drugs until his mother ultimately passed away. After she died, SGT A. knew that he needed to turn his life around for the better, in honor of his mother. 

SGT A. did just that and now serves as a commander in the IDF.  

SGT A. was only 13 years old when his mother got sick. He had to grow up in order to take care of his family. He suddenly went from a smiling, sporty and studious kid to an addict. "When I first started smoking drugs, I enjoyed it. But I really remember the day I realized it was something far beyond me."

In the 8th grade, SGT A. began to grow drugs on his own. Word got out of his actions and he ended up with one of the biggest criminal gangs in his area.

"They contacted me and at first I was a little stressed, but very quickly I decided that I wanted to join them. It gave me adrenaline and a thrill that I became addicted to, maybe even more than the actual drugs themselves."

The criminal gang gave him all the tools and means he needed. "We started building greenhouse after greenhouse––factories to produce Marihuana."

SGT A. was then exposed to harder drugs. "I was compulsive, and I tried every hard drug you can think of––I couldn't even sleep without using. The gang pumped me up and were there for me during difficult times. That’s how I got more and more stuck."

He then realized that he wanted to turn his life around and looked for help. He explained the situation with his mom and that he wanted to leave the gang and return to being his old self. 

"I started to volunteer and I stopped doing drugs. Working with children kept me going and really helped me. I was doing better but I had withdrawal symptoms. There were days when I felt like I was dying on the inside."

A few months later, SGT A.’s mother passed away. "After her funeral I started to use drugs again. I hit the lowest point of my life."

A few weeks after his mother's passing, he tried volunteering again, but quickly found out that it was not that simple. The withdrawal symptoms returned, and this time they were even more intense. SGT A. ended up going to rehab and "after a period there, when I was already clean, the social worker at the rehab suggested I enlist in the army.”

A few months later SGT A. began his service in the Nahal Brigade, and after an intensive training course and guidance from his commander, he decided to go to the IDF Commanders Course. "My commander influenced me in several different ways. He pushed me to excel, but also made me feel that there was someone who listened and understandood me. We decided that after the army he would open a boarding school for at-risk youth, and I would join as an addictions specialist.”

At the end of the commanders course, SGT A. was assigned to a Military Officers Course, and today he serves as the commander of 12 soldiers. "There is a lot to do but I enjoy the role I’m in and it fulfills me every day. I see the process that my soldiers go through and I get to be there for them as my commander was there for me.”

When asked what he would like to say to people who find themselves in situations similar to his, he said: "I would like them to know that you can get out of it. Addiction is like a voice in your head that is not you. It tells you to do things you don't want to, but you can get out of it and overcome it."