Tips to recognize problem gambling

Americans spend more on gambling than all other recreation combined. For most, it’s 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 and affects as many as 6 to 9 million Americans.

Wo u l d you recognize a gambling problem in someone you know? If you or someone you know answers yes to any of the following questions from the National Council on Problem Gambling, it’s likely that gambling has become problematic.

•Have you gambled until your last dollar is gone? •Have you often gambled longer than you had planned?

•Have you lied about your gambling to friends or family?

•Have you used your income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid?

•Have you made repeated attempts to stop gambling?

•Have you broken the law or c o n s i d e r e d breaking the law

to get money to

gamble?

•Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling?

•Have you felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses?

•Have you been remorseful after gambling?

•Have you gambled to try to get money to meet your financial obligations?

“Problem gambling is not a bad habit or a moral weakness. It’s a serious condition that responds well to treatment,” said Keith Whyte, executive director at the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Whyte said 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 might make a person more vulnerable, including a stressful life event such as the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, injury/disability; an early big win; preexisting mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, 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. Many people who seek help do recover.

For more information, call (800) 522-4700. A problem gambler doesn’t need to wait to “hit bottom” before asking for help.

National Problem Gambling Awareness Week is next week, March 6 to 12. For more information, visit www.npgaw.org.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.