Spring Break
National org.raises awareness about gambling addiction
Megan Kruger
Issue date: 3/17/09 Section: News
For many students, casinos like Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun provide an evening full of entertainment, as well as a much needed break from the UConn campus. With each casino only about an hour away, they are popular places to spend weekend afternoons or nights.
Both casinos offer popular games like poker, blackjack, and the ever-entertaining slot machines, as well offer other entertainment such as concerts and comedy shows. With a wide variety of shopping and dining options as well, it is easy to spend the whole day or night at either of these casinos.
For many, like Steve Papen, an 8th-semester economics major, gambling is an activity he does just for fun. Papen, who prefers to go to Mohegan Sun and spend his time at the Blackjack tables, said he hits the casino about twice a month.
For some, however, gambling is a serious problem. For this reason, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has designated this past week, March 10 - 16, as National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
"I agree that gambling can be addictive," Papen said. "Gambling should be treated recreationally. You can't see it as a solution to your problems."
Barry Schreier, the director of Counseling and Mental Health Services, said that his staff has seen students who have problems with both gambling at casinos as well as on-line gambling.
"We have more of a problem here with this issue then many other schools because of our close proximity to the casinos," Schreier said.
The NCPG says gambling is considered a "problem" when it "causes disruptions in any major area of life" including psychological, physical, social or vocational areas.
The NCPG estimates that about 2 million adults nationwide meet the criteria for what they consider to be pathological, or "problem," gambling. This number continues to increase with the widespread availability of online gambling.
The NCPG Web site, www.ncpgambling.org, offers resources by state for gamblers who think they may have a problem, including Gamblers Anonymous meeting times as well as other support groups for problem gamblers.
A variety of options are available through Counseling and Mental Health Services for students as well. Individual counseling with a mental health professional, as well as group therapy is available through this division of Student Health Services. Students who are unsure if they have a problem can start by taking the online mental health screening test at the Counseling and Mental Health services Web site, www.counseling.uconn.edu.
"We handle this problem like we would handle any other addiction," Schreier said.
Shame and secrecy, according to Schreier, are commonly associated with a gambling addiction, as well as many other addictions.
Counseling and Mental Health Services is located behind the Student Health Services building and can be reached at (860) 486-4705.
Both casinos offer popular games like poker, blackjack, and the ever-entertaining slot machines, as well offer other entertainment such as concerts and comedy shows. With a wide variety of shopping and dining options as well, it is easy to spend the whole day or night at either of these casinos.
For many, like Steve Papen, an 8th-semester economics major, gambling is an activity he does just for fun. Papen, who prefers to go to Mohegan Sun and spend his time at the Blackjack tables, said he hits the casino about twice a month.
For some, however, gambling is a serious problem. For this reason, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has designated this past week, March 10 - 16, as National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
"I agree that gambling can be addictive," Papen said. "Gambling should be treated recreationally. You can't see it as a solution to your problems."
Barry Schreier, the director of Counseling and Mental Health Services, said that his staff has seen students who have problems with both gambling at casinos as well as on-line gambling.
"We have more of a problem here with this issue then many other schools because of our close proximity to the casinos," Schreier said.
The NCPG says gambling is considered a "problem" when it "causes disruptions in any major area of life" including psychological, physical, social or vocational areas.
The NCPG estimates that about 2 million adults nationwide meet the criteria for what they consider to be pathological, or "problem," gambling. This number continues to increase with the widespread availability of online gambling.
The NCPG Web site, www.ncpgambling.org, offers resources by state for gamblers who think they may have a problem, including Gamblers Anonymous meeting times as well as other support groups for problem gamblers.
A variety of options are available through Counseling and Mental Health Services for students as well. Individual counseling with a mental health professional, as well as group therapy is available through this division of Student Health Services. Students who are unsure if they have a problem can start by taking the online mental health screening test at the Counseling and Mental Health services Web site, www.counseling.uconn.edu.
"We handle this problem like we would handle any other addiction," Schreier said.
Shame and secrecy, according to Schreier, are commonly associated with a gambling addiction, as well as many other addictions.
Counseling and Mental Health Services is located behind the Student Health Services building and can be reached at (860) 486-4705.
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posted 3/20/09 @ 5:38 PM EST
I agree that gambling addiction is like narcotic drugs. It's not a news, it's a fact that games like poker, blackjack, and the ever-entertaining slot machines is highly addictive. (Continued…)
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