National youth addiction org with 14 branches; confidential counselling for under-24s and parents.
Al-Sam (עמותת אל סם — “Put Drugs Aside”) is Israel’s oldest dedicated youth drug counselling NGO, founded in 1974 by Mrs. Ada Maknes. Al-Sam provides confidential counselling, support, and treatment to youth, young adults, and their families dealing with drug and alcohol use.
Al-Sam is a national organisation — it operates across Israel through a network of local offices and provides services to anyone who contacts them, regardless of location, background, or financial situation. Treatment is completely confidential. There are no preconditions for service, and costs are subsidised by the organisation for those who need it.
Therapists at Al-Sam are social workers and therapists specialising in youth and young adults with substance use issues. The organisation also runs community prevention and education programmes in schools, youth movements, the army, municipalities, and companies.
Al-Sam is designed specifically for young people and families. The following describes the population they publicly state they serve; contact Al-Sam directly to discuss your specific situation.
Al-Sam provides psychosocial counselling and support for youth and families. All services are outpatient — there is no residential component. The following is based on publicly available information from Al-Sam’s website.
The core of Al-Sam’s model is individual therapy between the client and a therapist. Sessions focus on understanding the reasons behind substance use, building motivation to change, and strengthening the young person’s capacity to manage challenges without substances. Al-Sam’s therapists are social workers and psychotherapists trained in working with youth and young adults.
Where the client is willing, Al-Sam includes family involvement in the treatment process. This includes parental guidance sessions, joint sessions with the young person and their parents, and work to improve communication and strengthen the family relationship. Family contact is always with the client’s knowledge and agreement.
Al-Sam emphasises that all treatment is completely confidential. Young people can seek help without their school, employer, or other services being informed. Anonymous contact is also available — you can call or message without giving your name.
Al-Sam runs prevention and awareness programmes in schools, educational staff workshops, parents’ circles, youth movements, army units, and companies. For organisations interested in booking a programme, contact Al-Sam through the details below.
Al-Sam subsidises the cost of its services for those who need support. No one is turned away due to inability to pay. Contact Al-Sam to discuss arrangements.
Al-Sam can be contacted by phone (short dial), WhatsApp, or email. Anonymous contact is available — you do not need to give your name to make an initial enquiry.
Al-Sam’s website also includes a “תיאום טיפול” (treatment coordination) option where you can arrange an initial consultation. You can be matched with a therapist at a branch near you after your first contact.
If you prefer not to give your name, you can contact Al-Sam anonymously by phone or WhatsApp. Al-Sam states that all contact and treatment is confidential.
Al-Sam is a subsidised service. The organisation states that it covers the cost of treatment for those who need financial support — no one is refused service due to inability to pay.
If cost is a concern, raise this when you first contact Al-Sam. The organisation has been operating on a subsidised model since 1974.
Recovery Compass listed Al-Sam based on its public website (alsam.org.il) and public sources. Al-Sam does not publish detailed information about individual branch locations, staff, or local schedules. The following is not publicly available:
Sources: Al-Sam official website (alsam.org.il). Profile last reviewed: June 2026.
Yes. Al-Sam explicitly serves families alongside the young people themselves. Parents and family members can contact Al-Sam to discuss their concern, get guidance, and understand what support is available. You do not need to wait for your child to seek help themselves — Al-Sam provides parental guidance and can advise on how to approach the conversation. Call *3228 or message via WhatsApp to speak with someone.
Al-Sam states that treatment is completely confidential. Young people’s information is not shared with schools, employers, parents (without the young person’s agreement), or other services. Anonymous contact is available — you can call or message without giving your name for an initial conversation. This confidentiality is described by Al-Sam as an important reason why young people are willing to seek help independently.
Al-Sam’s branch locations are not published individually on their website. The quickest way to find the nearest branch is to call *3228 from an Israeli mobile, or message via WhatsApp. Al-Sam will match you with a therapist or branch near you. You can also email contact@alsam.org.il.
Al-Sam’s publicly stated focus is drug use, alcohol use, gambling, and pornography among young people and young adults. Their website and mission statement cover all of these areas. If your concern involves alcohol or gambling rather than drugs, Al-Sam can still be the right first contact. Call *3228 to discuss.
Based on publicly available information. Confirm eligibility and intake criteria directly with the center before making any decision.
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RecoveryCompass sources listing information from government registries, ministry publications, and public provider data. We do not guarantee accuracy or current availability. Verify all information directly with the center before making any decision.
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