Gambling
...of U.S. adults have gambled at lest once in their lives; 60% in the past year.” Compulsive or problem gambling is similar to other addictions in that it is progressive and devastating to the individual. However, unlike other addictions, compulsive gambling can go completely unnoticed by family, friends, and co-workers. It takes on many different forms including casinos, racing, sports games, and video/internet card games. Unfortunately, gambling affects anyone from teenagers to seniors, individuals or families, and can lead to other serious problems.
Problem gambling is a serious condition, which like any other disease, slowly destroys a person’s life one wager at a time. Many people enjoy gambling as entertainment or innocent fun, but others have more at stake than gambling a few dollars here and there. Some people put their life savings into this addiction and face devastating consequences as a result. “Problem gambling includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt, or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. In extreme cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide” National Council on Problem Gambling, n.d.). As with other addictions, when a person finds they devote a significant amount of time gambling, looking for ways to gamble, or thinking about the money they need to gamble, they have developed a disease that will never go away, but can be treated.
Compulsive gamblers are not gender specific, age specific, or ethnically biased. Due to the numerous casinos, video poker bars, and Internet gambling websites, millions of Americans gamble each year. “Researchers at Harvard University have found that for most individuals, gambling starts during the teen years…between 76 and 91 percent of all teen-agers will have gambled by the time they reach their final year of...
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