HFM Prevention Council

86 Briggs Street
Suite 5
Johnstown, NY 12095
ph: 518-736-8188
fax: 518-736-8192

Gambling

State-run lotteries.  On-line gambling.  TV poker shows.  Casinos on reservations and on water.  Atlantic City.  Las Vegas.  OTB.  Like it or not, gambling is everywhere today.

  • Gambling Today

    As adults, the infiltration of gambling into everyday life came gradually.  Forty years ago there was the racetrack, Las Vegas and the New Hampshire lottery and that was it.  But for our youth, gambling is a normal part of life.  

    In Fulton County, close to 70 percent of middle school and high school students gambled in the past year.  And, whenever an addictive activity, like gambling become normalized, around 8 to 10 percent of the population experience negative consequences.  They can become addicted. 

  • Warning Signs

    Like any addictive behavior,  there are often clear symptoms of a developing problem.  Individually, these symptoms may not indicate a gambling problem, but if an individual exhibits several, there is cause for concern.

    -unexplained need for money

    -money or possessions missing from the home,

    -unexplained charges on credit card bills,

    -withdrawal from friends and family

    -missing school or work

    -frequent anxiety, depression or mood swings

    -dropping of outside activities and interests

    -continuing to gamble despite consequences

    -gambling as a way to escape worries 

Where to get help...

24-hour gambling hotline...1-800-437-1611 

For general information, call the HFM Prevention Council at 736-8188

For treatment help, please call Fulton County Addiction Services, 773-3532

For support, Gambler's Anonymous meets every Thursday at 7:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Johnstown, call 762-8263 

  

Risk Factors

Youth

    -Starting to gamble at an early age

    -Favorable attitudes towards gambling among parents    

    and peers

    -Having friends who gamble

    -Community availability and attitudes that are favorable

    towards gambling

    -Family history of a gambling problem

Seniors

    -Relocation (selling house, moving to senior housing)

    -Depression

    -Stress

    -Loneliness

    -Fear of death

    -Loss of friends/loved ones

    -Strong marketing including "freebies" and prizes

           -Taken from New York State Office of Alcoholism and    

            Substance Abuse Services

 

Copyright HFM Prevention Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

86 Briggs Street
Suite 5
Johnstown, NY 12095
ph: 518-736-8188
fax: 518-736-8192