Fall 1996
This edition of Beyond the Odds has a special focus on the relationship between problem gambling and chemical dependency. When we began to publicize the Minnesota Compulsive Gambling Hotline back in 1991, the connection between these two problem areas seemed obvious. Two of the first series of posters designed to advertise the Hotline focused on the drug and gambling connection: "You Don't Have to do Drugs to get Hooked by a Dealer" and "Thousands of Youth are Addicted to this Kind of Pot". These posters appear inside this newsletter.
While the connection between problem gambling and chemical dependency seen in 1991 was based on information from various sources throughout the country, we now know that this is also true here in Minnesota. As researchers Randy Stinchfield and Ken Winters reported in the last edition of Beyond the Odds, over one-third (36%) of gamblers receiving treatment in the six state supported treatment centers in Minnesota have received chemical dependency services. Other studies have found the percentage to be as high as 57%. Recently, a Hotline caller stated, "My husband went through treatment for alcoholism seven years ago and now I'm seeing the same behaviors related to his gambling." The caller then added, "And I'm not going through this again." Obviously her patience was exhausted with the previous problem. Another caller stated, "I've been through treatment for chemical dependency and I go to AA regularly. I started gambling awhile ago and now I can't stop. I can't believe that this is happening."
Calls like the ones above and treatment center data have led to the need to make everyone in recovery from chemical dependency aware of the risks of gambling. This is particularly important for people in the early stages of recovery from chemical dependency. It is equally important for professionals to inform their clients of the connection between chemical dependency and problem gambling.
Our growing awareness of the increased risks for people in recovery from chemical dependency also led us to create a new poster captioned "Problem Drinkers are Often in a Position to Become Problem Gamblers". Copies of this new poster, as well as the previously mentioned posters, are available to Minnesota agencies free of charge. Please call the Minnesota Compulsive Gambling Hotline at 1-800-437-3641 to obtain copies.
—Roger Svendsen
In This Issue
Callers to the Hotline requesting help for a gambling problem in 1995 reported a variety of problems related to their gambling or that of a family member or friend.
1. Family or Spouce.............84% 2. Paying Household Bills.......75% 3. Debt.........................71% 4. Feeling Depressed............70% 5. Borrowing from Friends/Relatives............59% 6. Using Equity/Savings.........56% 7. Borrowing from Credit Cards..53% 8. Job or School................44% 9. Ever Written a Bad Check.....43% 10. Drinking or Other Drug Use...24%
Internet Update In addition to the list of all GA and GamAnon meeting sites and times in Minnesota, our Internet Web Page, located at http://www.miph.org/gambling, now includes:
Upcoming Events Gamblers Intervention Services will be holding a short term clinic on gambling problems for people who have SOGS scores of 5 or less. The clinic will be held in on November 2, 1996 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm at the Arrowhead Center, Inc. in Virginia, MN. There is a $20 workshop fee which includes lunch. For more information, contact the Arrowhead Center, Inc. at 218-749-2877.
