True Confession: The Reality of Problem Gambling
I had a close family member who lost 10k gambling and lost their home as a consequence. I worked within the gambling industry for several years and often met people who lost every cent they had, frequently resulting in their having to ask employees and/or strangers for money to get home. I even met a problem gambling expert who provided an introduction to the subject…
And I still didn’t know. I knew that “technically speaking” gambling could qualify as an addiction. But the reality of this statement and the people it referred to remained vague and unreal.
Then in May of 2013 pathological gambling was recognized and formally classified as a psychological disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. I remember hearing this, being surprised and starting to understand. Still, I think the reality of problem gambling really hit me when I met someone who was in recovery and recognized in his story, the description of a real, practical, powerful addiction.
My tone alone should tell you that I am not a gambler. But I am a human being. And as a human being I know what it is like to be irresistibly drawn to do things I know I shouldn’t, to be coerced and even conned by a part of myself that is searching for that thing which will make me feel… better.
Once I realized the reality of problem gambling I began finding instances of it frequently—maybe you will too. And when I found it, in friends, family or strangers, I not only recognized the problem but empathized with the affliction. That is the reason why it is an honor for me to participate in the work of the Queens Center for Excellence, work that is dedicated to being exactly what our tagline says:
“Here to Help”
Every day thousands of people gamble. As you’d might guess, a lot of these people are just having fun or hoping to win the big jackpot people are talking about. But there are actually a significant number of individuals for whom these activities have the hold of a powerfully addictive drug. Therefore, in its best sense, “Here to Help” means helping these people find recovery, restoration and the potential for personal freedom.