The (Becoming) Un-Hidden Addiction
In my last blog I listed some of positive outcomes that I have experienced during my first year working as the QCFE Program Director. One of the outcomes I mentioned was an increase in problem gambling awareness. That is, our community is becoming aware and knowledgeable that gambling can be a serious and tragic problem for some people. While the evidence for this increase is still largely anecdotal, ranging from our quickly growing client base to reports from our community partners, it is consistent, increasing and encouraging.
I chose to blog on this topic because the seeming simple act of increasing awareness produces powerful effects. What are these effects? Many people immediately think of the preventative effect. And this is, although challenging to quantify, common-sensically profound.
For example: I recently provided a problem gambling presentation to approximately 60 counselors from the Board of Education. This might seem like a small number till we realize that each of these counselors will meet and personally evaluate hundreds or thousands of children during their career, armed with an awareness which they can share and use to inform and/or identify students who are at risk. This same awareness can also travel from the students to their friends, family and community—thereby preventing many potential tragedies.
Of course this very same awareness can help those who already have a problem and are in need of treatment and recovery support. The same example can be used to demonstrate when considered from a different angle: during the presentation we also had an opportunity to discuss problem gambling warning signs and the issue of gambling amongst the counselors themselves—subtly and potentially pushing the counselors to confront their own personal issues.
When we consider the practical operation of awareness in this way we realize how simple but powerful it can be—informing children, advising adults and letting those who need help know that it is available! And we can be encouraged even by the knowledge that such helpful awareness seems to be growing—making the infamously hidden addiction—un-hidden.
And I will stress that any progress has been accomplished not by myself or even by the licensed professionals who I work with each day, but by an entire community of aware individuals caring, sharing and communicating. Because of this important fact we want to once again encourage all readers to do their part in this life-saving communication—you just might save a life.
To find out more check out our Know the Odds booklets by clicking on the highlighted link.