Problem Gambling: High Stakes Bring Painful Losses

FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010 (03/05/2010)(readMedia)-- State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today called on New Yorkers to recognize the warning signs of problem gambling and know where to access the professional services available to treat addiction to gambling.

"Like other addictions, gambling addiction has serious consequences and can be devastating to the individual and the family – the high stakes of problem gambling bring painful losses: loss of one's dignity, family and relationships, jobs, vehicle repossessions, home foreclosures, enormous debt, prison and even depression and suicide," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo.

Unlike the addiction to alcohol or drugs, gambling addiction does not manifest itself with physical warning signs, making it difficult to see that one out of 20 adults – or almost 700,000 New Yorkers – are dealing with problem gambling. One in 10 adolescents reported in an OASAS survey that they, too, had experienced problem gambling within the past year, a total of 160,000 youth.

Joyce Barrett of Syracuse, now in recovery for 19 years from gambling addiction, chose to shed light on her once-hidden addiction by sharing her story through OASAS' Your Story Matters campaign at www.iamrecovery.com, where hundreds of individuals have shared their stories of recovery.

What started out as playing with quarters, ended up as hundreds of dollars falling through my fingertips each day. People knew I gambled, but no one knew the extent of my gambling. I was writing bad checks and cashing insurance checks earmarked for doctors and hospitals. I had no choice but to tell my husband, and I will never forget the look on his face-anger. Anger at the person I had become; anger at the $80,000 of debt; anger that he never "saw it coming." After years of living with the miserable gambling behaviors, I began to care again. I admitted I had a problem and sought help for my gambling addiction. Today, I can say without the shame and the guilt that I am a recovering compulsive gambler. "TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE"....These words were told to me at the very early stage of my recovery and now I am not alone and caring and sharing is what I do best.

As overseer of one of the nation's largest addiction services systems, OASAS, communities and the private sector need to ensure that individuals have access to much-needed prevention, treatment and recovery services for problem gambling.

Research indicates that the risk of problem gambling behaviors increases within a 50-mile radius of a casino or racino. To address this factor, OASAS has established 68 problem gambling programs in communities throughout New York located within an hour's drive of these operations. However, it is important to understand that gambling venues are not the enemy; the real problem is the gambling addiction.

Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo continued, "It is our shared responsibility to increase awareness and help people recognize the warning signs, which are often subtle: thinking constantly about gambling; increasing bets to sustain the thrill; exhibiting agitation when cutting back on gambling; gambling as an escape; "chasing" or trying to offset losses with more gambling; lying to conceal gambling activity; financing bets through illegal acts; and jeopardizing significant relationships with family."

Problem Gambling Awareness Week is being recognized March 7-13 throughout the state and nationally. To help spread the message that recovery is possible, OASAS encourages those who are in recovery from gambling addiction or the friend or family member of someone in recovery, share your story at www.iamrecovery.com, anonymously if you wish. For help, call 1-877-8-HOPENY or visit the OASAS Web site at www.oasas.state.ny.us.

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems dedicated to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, with more than 1,550 programs serving over 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day.

Through efforts such as the Your Story Matters campaign at www.iamrecovery.com, the agency hopes to foster a movement of recovery, one that sheds the stigma and promotes a life of health and wellness. For more information, please visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

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