Lawrenceburg, In. — Community Mental Health Center, Inc., Lawrenceburg, with the National Council on Problem Gambling, recognizes March as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. This year’s campaign continues with the theme “Action + Awareness.”
For the 15th consecutive year, CMHC, in collaboration with NCPG, dedicates March to helping people “have the conversation” about problem gambling. About 2 million (1%) of U. S. adults are estimated to meet criteria for pathological gambling. Another 4 million to 6 million (2%-3%) would be considered problem gamblers, yet, for many, gambling remains a hidden addiction.
Problem Gambling Awareness Month is designed to help raise awareness of the prevention, treatment and recovery services available for those adversely affected by gambling. The grassroots campaign brings together a wide range of stakeholders – public health organizations, advocacy groups, and gambling operators – who work collaboratively to let people know that hope and help exist.
Statistics gathered from various health and governmental sources and posted on the National Council’s website indicate consumers spend more than $100 billion annually on legal gaming in the United States. At the same time, the social costs of problem gambling total more than $7 billion every year. Social costs include addiction, bankruptcy, and related criminal activity.
For most people, gambling is a fun diversion, but for a few, gambling can become a serious life-altering problem. Problem gambling is behavior that causes disruptions in any major area of a person’s life. According to the national council’s website, “It is important to recognize that most people can gamble without negative consequences. A small percentage, however, of persons who gamble suffer enormous social, economic and psychological implications. Individuals, families and communities all suffer from problem gambling.”
The annual NCAA college basketball tournament is entertaining for many and also represents a huge gaming interest for many. As March Madness reaches a crescendo, with an estimated $10 billion in bets placed on the NCAA championship games, calls to the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) spike an average of 30% during the month.
Would you recognize a gambling problem in someone you know? Signs of problem gambling include: argumentative and defensive behavior around gambling; unexplained absences for long periods of time; lies to loved ones about gambling behavior; going without basic needs in order to gamble, and borrowing money to gamble.
Problem gambling is not a bad habit or a moral weakness. It’s a serious condition that responds well to treatment. Anyone can develop a problem with gambling. It can affect men or women of any age, race or religion, regardless of their social status.
Some risk factors, individually or in combination, might make a person more vulnerable:
- A stressful life event, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, injury/disability
- An early big win while gambling
- Pre-existing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or alcoholism
- Family history of addictions such as alcoholism, compulsive gambling and drug addiction.
There is hope and help for problem gamblers and their loved ones, and many people who seek help do recover. For more information, contact Community Mental Health Center, Inc., at (812) 537-1302, or contact the National Council on Problem Gambling at (800) 522-4700. Community Mental Health Center provides treatment services for problem gambling. For information on Indiana gambling treatment resources, contact the state’s problem gambling referral line at (800) 994-8448. To find out about meetings of Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon, call (866) 442-8621. Information on the Internet can be found on the National Council of Problem Gambling’s website at www.ncpgambling.org.
All CMHC services are provided without regard to race, religion, disability, gender, color, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political belief, status as a veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
