Students, families, CEOs, and many others are dealing with the scarcity of money because the recession the country is facing.
Imagine having a lack of money and having a gambling addiction.
March 1-7 is Gambling Awareness Week, and the National Council on Problem Gambling presents its seventh annual campaign, according to napgw.org.
NCPG’s campaign informs people about the gambling addiction and offers services to help those with gambling addictions or problems.
Because gambling addictions are not as common as alcohol and drug addictions, it is considered the “hidden illness,” according to website helpguide.org.
Henry L. Kirby, associate vice president and dean of students, said he has not dealt with any student gambling situations for some time now. His job would be to deal with students who get caught on campus because it defies the code of conduct.
“Gambling is against the law, but an addiction isn’t,” Kirby said. He said if a student violates campus policy and in their case evidence reveals that they have an addiction, they will be directed to Sunshine Manor.
Sunshine Manor offers counseling services for students on campus.
“A gambling addiction is very similar to other addictions,” said Dougla Stancil, the coordinator of clinical programs in Sunshine Manor.
He said they first ask the students if they acknowledge their addiction as a problem because some may not. Helpguide.org says problem gamblers, which are different from addictive or compulsive gamblers, minimize their gambling issues as something menial.
Next, representatives in the Sunshine Manor find out when the student began gambling and how long have they had the habit. The student can be helped from those underlying details as with other addictions.
“People may be addicted to gambling because of the escape, and they make get hooked to the adrenaline rush,” Stancil said.
According to helpguide.org, there are two types of people who have challenges with gambling. There are action gamblers and escape gamblers. Action gamblers love the “thrill of risk-taking.” They usually gamble with other people because defeating them is a part of the rush.
Escape gamblers are trying to get away from pain, worries and loneliness. Unlike action gamblers, escape gamblers prefer to be alone and they engage in activities like slot machines, bingo, and online poker. These are games that don’t require much thought so they can “zone out.”
Whether a person is an escape gambler or an action gambler, they can be a compulsive gambler or a problem gambler. Compulsive gamblers need gambling in their lives. They live for the next bet and will gamble whether they are happy or depressed. Problem gamblers do not need gambling, but their gambling habit may cause problems in their lives, as stated on the site.
According to npgaw.org, most people can gamble without negative outcomes. Just a small amount suffers social, economic, and psychological dilemmas. All of the problems associated with gambling cannot be discussed.
However, problem gambling can create domestic issues. Children of someone who is prone to gambling may be neglected and abused according to the National Research Council.
And although there is a small percentage of people who may have major complications with gambling, it is a real addiction and people can receive help from the national hotline 1-800-522-4700.