This project was selected for funding under the University of Haifa’s Impact Research Initiative (2024–2025) and supported by a NIS 50,000 grant from the Innovation and Sustainability Division.
The awarded research reflects the University’s leadership in shaping a more sustainable future, positioning academic research as a catalyst for social responsibility, environmental resilience and long-term impact.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas’ terrorist attack on music festivals in the Gaza envelope exposed more than 4,400 people to extreme trauma. Over 360 were murdered and dozens were abducted. Many survivors witnessed severe violence—while more than half were under the influence of psychoactive substances such as MDMA, LSD and cannabis.
This unprecedented reality marks the first documented mass-terror event in which civilians experienced trauma while in altered states of consciousness.
In response, a large-scale research initiative was launched at the University of Haifa, led by Prof. Roy Salomon, a cognitive neuropsychologist, and Prof. Roee Admon, an expert in the neural mechanisms of trauma. The study follows the physical, psychological, and social well-being of more than 1,500 survivors, while also examining how psychoactive substance use influences trauma processing and recovery.
The findings are already informing government treatment policies and supporting the work of Lev-Batuach (“Safe Heart”), a nonprofit providing specialized mental health care to survivors who experienced trauma under the influence of psychoactive substances—many of whom continue to use them today.
This work exemplifies the University of Haifa’s commitment to impact-driven research, transforming scientific insight into improved care, informed policy and meaningful change for affected communities.