Problem Gambling Program |
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Brochure and posters for educating communities about the signs of problem gambling and how to get help: The brochure and poster content may be re-printed for publications and other distribution by requesting permission from DASA. Email requests to schneda@dshs.wa.gov. Printed copies of the brochure and posters may be ordered free of charge (for Washington residents only) by emailing your request to: clearinghouse@adhl.org, or calling 1-800-662-9111.
General
Awareness Brochure (pdf) Upcoming Conference
Focus on the Future
To schedule a presentation about the signs and consequences
of problem gambling for youth and adults, contact the
Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling at (360)
352-6133 or
www.evergreencpg.org
Frequently asked questions about problem gambling:
How are services for problem gambling treatment being funded? How are services for problem gambling treatment being funded? During legislative session in 2005, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1031 passed, which provides for funds from Washington’s Lottery, Washington Horse Racing Commission and recreational gaming licensees to be used for problem gambling services. These commissions will pay a tax of 0.01% in Fiscal Year 2006 and 0.013% in subsequent years from their gross revenues to provide prevention activities and treatment for problem gamblers. In addition to the money designated to provide services to gamblers by the legislature, several Washington Tribal governments have voluntarily chosen to give funds for the treatment of problem gambling. In fiscal year 2006, the amount contributed for gambling treatment was $552,000. Who is responsible for the Problem Gambling Program? The responsibility for planning, implementing, and overseeing this program was delegated to the Department of Social and Health Services, through the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA). In June 2005, DASA hired a Program Manager who had extensive experience in administering a gambling program to develop and provide oversight to the Washington program. The Program Manager has worked to plan and implement the program in accordance with the intent of the legislation, including forming an advisory committee, and implementing a prevention program and a treatment program. Problem Gambling Advisory Committee: The enabling legislation mandated that a state wide Advisory Committee be formed. The Problem Gambling Advisory Committee met for the first time on July 26, 2005. Participating in the meeting were a wide array of people who came together with a common goal, to provide the best prevention and treatment services to problem gamblers and their family members. Participants include representatives from the Recreational Gaming Association, Washington Gambling Commission, Washington’s Lottery, Washington Horse Racing Commission, those who do treatment with problem gamblers and family members, recovering gamblers, advocacy agencies, tribal representatives and representatives from the Washington Indian Gaming Association. Also at the table were those representing law enforcement, defense attorneys, and the Certification Board for Gambling Treatment Providers. In all, 14 agencies are represented. The Advisory Committee meets monthly, and has formed work groups to accomplish more focused study and work on several objectives. The work groups bring recommendations back to the larger committee. There are work groups that address Helpline, Prevention, Training, and Treatment. Who is eligible to receive treatment? Every person who lives in the state of Washington is eligible for treatment related to problem gambling. Both the gambler and family member can access treatment by calling the 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-547-6133. If you have financial resources or health insurance that will cover treatment, Helpline staff will refer you to a private counselor who has the knowledge and experience to treat the harm caused by gambling. If you do not have financial resources or applicable insurance coverage, you may qualify for publicly funded treatment. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1031 mandated a provision for treatment services at little or no cost to the client. The law says that a person is eligible for treatment if: · He or she needs treatment for problem or pathological gambling.· A family member seeks treatment because he or she is affected by problem or pathological gambling. · He or she is “unable to afford treatment.” · He or she is “most amenable to treatment.” View problem gambling treatment fact sheet (pdf). DASA currently has publicly funded contracts with 19 agencies throughout the state to provide treatment for problem gamblers and family members. View list of current problem gambling treatment agencies (pdf). How do I know if someone has a gambling problem? Gambler’s Anonymous has a list of 20 questions that they ask. Here are the questions. Just answer “yes” or “no” to each one.
If the answer is “yes” to at least seven of these questions, Gambler’s Anonymous would consider the person answering a compulsive gambler. To determine if you are living with someone who might be a compulsive gambler take the assessment questionnaire (pdf). There are different types of gamblers. Most gamblers, about 96% of the people who gamble, are social gamblers. They are able to: Decide on a loss limit ahead of time and stick to it · Never borrow money to gamble · Set a time limit · Take frequent breaks · Balance gambling with other activities · Don’t gamble when highly stressed, depressed or troubled in some other way · Only gamble with money set aside for entertainment, never with money for everyday expenses. Some social gamblers are very serious about their gambling. They go to bingo every Thursday night, and they let little interfere with bingo (or poker) night. These gamblers are called serious social gamblers. They are like other people who might be serious about working out or playing tennis or golf. These gamblers gamble regularly, but they are able to quit without showing signs of withdrawal or irritability. Some gamblers are called at-risk gamblers. This term means different things to different people. It can refer to people who score 1 or 2 on a gambling screen called the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). It can mean people who fit certain characteristics. For instance, studies show that adolescent boys who cut school or smoke cigarettes have a higher incidence of gambling behaviors. An adolescent boy who smokes and cuts school could then be called “at risk” for gambling problems because others with similar characteristics gamble at a higher rate than that of the general population. The term, problem gambler, is used to describe someone who scores 3-4 on the South Oaks Gambling Screen. In a less scientific way, it is also used to describe anyone who is exhibiting any problems because of gambling. Warning signs of a gambling problem. A person might be considered a compulsive gambler if he or she can answer affirmatively to seven of the Twenty Questions from Gambler’s Anonymous. (The 20 questions are listed above, in the section entitled, How do I know if someone has a gambling problem. The word, compulsion, according to Webster’s New College Dictionary, means “An irresistible impulse to act irrationally.” The term, compulsive gambler, implies that the gambler is unable to (cannot resist the impulse) to control his or her gambling. Pathological gambling is a term that is used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association. It is found among other Impulse Control Disorders, not otherwise specified, 312.31. There is a list of ten criteria (pdf), of which a person must admit to five, to be diagnosed as a pathological gambler. If I think I have a gambling problem, what should I do? Please call 1-800-547-6133 in Washington State, or 1-800-522-4700 from anywhere in the United States for 24-hour live voice response to help you with a gambling problem. When you call, you will probably be asked some questions about your gambling so that the person answering the call can determine what information is going to be most helpful to you. If you want it, the person answering will offer to send you some literature about your gambling problem. If you want the literature, you will need to give your address. All names and information shared during the call are absolutely confidential, but the information that you share will be written down. That information is put together, without your name and address, so that research can be done on problem gambling. In addition to offering you some literature, the phone answerer will also tell you about Gambler’s Anonymous meetings in your area. If you are a family member, then you may get information about Gam-Anon, if there are meetings available in your area. The phone answerer will also tell you about how you can access treatment. Have a pen ready to take down phone numbers of the treatment providers to whom you will be referred. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. The people who answer the phone have been trained extensively to talk with you about problem gambling and to answer your questions. In Washington State, treatment is provided free of charge or for a very small fee (one or two dollars, depending on the agency). There are a limited number of sessions, however, so it is important that you work hard to follow the treatment plan that you and your counselor agree on. Spouses can join you in your treatment sessions if you and your therapist choose to invite him or her. Spouses can also have a limited number of sessions alone with a therapist. When one has a gambling problem, it is sometimes difficult to imagine what life would be like without gambling, so it is hard to imagine quitting. Therapists understand that, and will work with you to quit gambling, or to cut down so that it doesn’t cause as much disruption to you and your family. Do seniors have more gambling problems than other people? We need to be careful not to jump to conclusions regarding seniors and gambling. Seniors are easily recognizable in gaming venues, but we don’t know that they have any higher percentage of a gambling problem than other age groups. More information on seniors and gambling (pdf). Are there other sources of information about gambling problems? Here are some links that you might find helpful. Gambler’s Anonymous website has a directory to find meetings near you, or if you are traveling out of town, and want to attend a meeting in a town you are visiting. GA materials can be ordered also. www.gamblersanonymous.org If you are a loved one or close friend of someone with a gambling problem, you can find a list of Gam-Anon meetings and materials at the following website: www.gam-anon.org The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling is a private, nonprofit agency that provides public awareness, education, training, advocacy and helpline services. They offer a variety of information on their website at: www.evergreecpg.org. The National Council on Problem Gambling is composed of 36 state affiliates. Each affiliate offers services and information. The National Council is a clearinghouse for information, facilitates a national conference on problem and pathological gambling, and is an educational resource. The National Council also has a certification component for problem gambling treatment providers. The National Council on Problem Gambling can be contacted at: http://www.ncpgambling.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1 |
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Modified:
April 23, 2008
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