Recognizing that you or someone you know may have a gambling problem can sometimes be a great challenge. Part of the reason it can be a challenge is because of how gambling is viewed in mainstream society, especially in comparison with other forms of addiction. This view is itself related to the wide variety of… Read more »
Learn MoreDid you find this experience helpful? That is the standard last question I ask when processing a caller’s QCFE “Help Request”. At that point we have discussed their particular circumstances and concerns, reviewed resource options and decided upon a basic plan, which in some cases can certainly qualify as a strategy for help. But what exactly… Read more »
Learn MoreAsk any legitimate fan and they will tell you that the most entertaining aspect of recent mixed martial arts is the fact that the past year has been filled with a continued series of jaw-dropping, odd-defying outcomes; what sports fans call an “upset” and many of these upsets at the championship level. Arguably the most… Read more »
Learn MoreWe like winning because winning feels good. Just consider the natural physical energy we feel when we win and the common pleasure of games, trophies, prizes. From growing child to aging adults, human beings clearly have the capacity to receive intense pleasure from winning. Our brains release dopamine when we win and can provide intense… Read more »
Learn MoreI liked this year’s Problem Gambling maxim as soon as I read it and more and more as I reflected on it. It is short and simple, but its three words so aptly and poignantly describe the purpose and performance of the QCFE that they read like a personal message to me, because it is… Read more »
Learn MoreIn 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… Read more »
Learn MoreAs we begin the New Year I feel grateful that I have the pleasure of revisiting a past year full of positive professional outcomes. First and foremost we launched the Queens Center for Excellence—a 2-year pilot program created by the New York Council on Problem Gambling and aimed at addressing problem gambling in Queens County…. Read more »
Learn MoreMany people are used to sharing information that will help keep their family and friends safe. Often we not only talk about these things, but also text and email about them. We email links to “Things you should know…” and text warnings about upcoming events. It seems easy to understand why we do this—we want… Read more »
Learn MoreThere was a Public Service Announcements that used to play in the 1990’s. I don’t recall the video images, but I do clearly remember the concluding voiceover of the ad series, which always ended the commercial by soberly stating: “Nobody ever says: “I want to be addict.” I didn’t think too deeply about the commercial then. But… Read more »
Learn MoreSpeaking as a long-time Queens resident I’d say there is a learning curve in our community’s understanding of problem gambling. Part of the reason this curve exists is because many Queens residents (like me) became intimate with gambling while experiencing our first, highly sensationalized, Casino opening. Before that we had a well-known racetrack with its… Read more »
Learn More
