What are the social and economic effects of gambling addiction?
In
1998 the National Gambling Impact Study Commission funded a study to
determine the overall cost to society posed by problem and pathological
gamblers in the United States.
The
results showed that approximately $5 billion was lost annually, with an
additional $40 billion in lifetime costs for productivity reductions,
social services and creditor losses. Studies have concluded that two out
of three pathological gamblers commit illegal acts in order to pay
gambling-related debts. This places a hardship on our legal systems,
prison systems and public assistance programs.
Gambling
The following consequences of problem gambling all result in economic costs for states, communities and individuals:
* Job loss, unemployment
* Debt, bankruptcy
* Embezzlement, fraud, check forgery
* Eviction, forced home sales
* Crime, arrest, incarceration
* Poor physical and mental health, suicide
* Alcohol and drug abuse
The
families of problem gamblers also suffer greatly from physical and
psychological abuse; harassment and threats from bill collectors and
creditors; increased stress stemming from neglect and divorce; and the
extra financial burden placed on them to repay debts.
Sadly, children are negatively affected by gambling addiction in several ways.
* Physical and emotional abandonment is a very real phenomenon.
*
Casino kids are left in cars or on the periphery of the gambling action
while their parents gamble, or may spend hours with babysitters, thus
missing the nurturing they need.
*
Children of pathological gamblers are typically abused verbally,
mentally and physically by the gambler, and often even more so by the
co-dependent spouse.
* Finally, these children are much more likely to develop gambling addiction than their peers.
Excerpted from research: Effects of Problem Gambling. California Council on Problem Gambling (Anaheim, CA); 2006.
If you or someone you love is in the grips of GAMBLING ADDICTION please call our professionals at Coaching With Substance, Australia's leading treatment and rehab consultants for HELP. Call 1300 773 422 (7days) or 07 560 66315
About Coaching with Substance
Maria Pau is an award-winning addiction / co-dependency specialist and the Program Director of Coaching with
Substance in Australia. We run a cutting edge holistic addiction
treatment program and outpatient rehabilitation consultancy firm that
ensures you are released from the shackles of addiction once and for
all.
Primary
care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs
that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly
effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual
coaching, therapy and extensive aftercare assistance.
All
clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced
therapist as well as a medical officer and Naturopath. Clients may also
be referred for psychometric testing and assessment, if needed.
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