March Declared Gambling Addiction Awareness Month
Gambling addiction has been a problem literally since gambling has existed, to the point where some religions, such as Islam, have placed gambling in the same category as alcohol and have completely forbidden it. But now, with gambling and casinos being more accessible than ever (in no small part thanks to the immense popularity of online gambling), the problem has increased tremendously. Dozens of people get diagnosed with gambling addiction across the world every week, and despite authorities’ best efforts, things are somehow becoming worse instead of better. Countries around the world are taking various preventative measures, but at this point it’s anyone’s guess if any of them will end up working out.
The UK, for example, has recently faced some controversy when it was discovered that doctors have been permitted to prescribe powerful drugs to people suffering from gambling addiction – drugs typically reserved for the most severe cases of alcohol and drug addiction. While many have called the practice desperate, it is important to note that these drugs will only be prescribed to gamblers who can’t be helped in any other way. The US has also seen a sharp increase in cases of gambling addiction, but whether that’s due to an actual increase in cases or due to psychologists learning to recognize its symptoms more easily is up for debate. Either way, 3.4 million Americans have been diagnosed as suffering from gambling addiction – a record high. The state of Minnesota has declared March to be Gambling Addiction Awareness Month, dedicating numerous resources to raising awareness and letting people know that this problem exists, and that if they believe they have it they should seek help as soon as possible.
Minnesota has achieved this by creating numerous videos featuring gambling experts and people suffering from gambling addiction talking about the problem. The videos are available online, on a special website or on the Facebook page “nojudgment”, and will also be playing in sports clubs and in gas stations across the state. The videos talk about how many gamblers feel the need to deceive themselves and others, to convince themselves that they’re not addicted and they can stop whenever they want, when in reality that’s not really the case. “It’s critical that people who are concerned that their gambling is out of control reach out to get the help they need,” says Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper. “Having the conversation with loved ones, with people who have gambling problems themselves, or with professionals is a great place to start.”
There are numerous places where you can receive help if you believe you’re suffering from gambling addiction. In Minnesota, you can call a confidential helpline at 1-800-333-HOPE, while the UK has several organizations dedicated to preventing problem gambling, such as GambleAware.