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Dear
Readers,
When I was a youngster I was taught that gambling
was wrong, but today's children are growing up with
gambling is as easy as going to a candy store. Now gambling
is available close to home; even inside, via the Internet
or the phone. Teenagers can, and do, gamble away their
future in their own rooms. Governors (like our own who
just signed an off-track wagering bill, making betting
as easy as picking up the phone) encourage their citizens
to bet and tell them how much they can win. Gambling
is good they say, it's fun, no one gets hurt, and everybody
is doing it. Even though gambling by our teens is against
the law, they are illegally betting anywhere from $500
million to $1 billion or more a year....as many as a
million are gambling addicts.
Is
there a gambling problem amongst teens in Bergen County?
You bet...though it's a well-kept secret. Many of our
kids are deeply involved in gambling activities which
include; bingo, playing cards for money, sports betting,
and playing lotteries.
Why
Do Teens Gamble? To repeat the observation reported
last week: "All addictions, have a neurobiological
basis; so pathological gambling is also a chronic
relapsing brain disease like alcoholism. It
has all of the hallmarks of addiction including tolerance
and withdrawal." Therefore, it is not at all surprising
to find that the following list of reasons for teen
gambling have a marked resemblance to that of a teen
addicted to alcohol or other drugs: History of gambling
in the family.....Problems at home.....Low self-esteem.....Peer
pressure.....The action of the game.....To win money.....To
gain attention from peers...... Familiar, aren't they?
Last
week, I promised to let my readers know some of the
warning signs which suggest that a child may have a
gambling problem...all very similar to those seen when
a youngster is addicted to alcohol or other drugs. Here
are some of those Danger Signals:
1)
Selling prized possessions, such as CDs or sports equipment,
to cover debts. 2) Borrowing, shoplifting or stealing
from parents, other family members and friends to get
money for gambling. 3) Staying up late, failure to do
schoolwork or skipping school, because of gambling.
4) Having gambling "stuff" at home (lottery
tickets, betting sheets). 5) Unexplained debts or windfall
cash. 6) Telephone calls from strangers and higher phone
bills. 7) Unexplained absences from home, school or
work. 8) Increased day dreaming and anxiety. 9) Extreme
moodiness. 10) Withdrawal from relationships, school
groups or activities; and, 11) The very essence of
any addiction, loss of control... an inability
to stop gambling, drinking or drugging even if he or
she wants to.
If
your teen shows any of these danger signs, talk to him/her.
Then, if necessary, talk to the school guidance counselor,
a family member or close friend. Ask for a referral
to a community agency that deals with gambling problems.
Or call: 1-800-GAMBLER, the nationwide service
run by the New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling.
1-800-522-4700 is another help line run by the
National Council on Problem Gambling. To put it simply:
Gambling is an addiction. Don't let it ruin your child's
life.
Like
it or not, most suburban parents, school administrators
and Board of Education members don't really know diddley
about addictive illnesses...until they do, the addiction
epidemic, particularly amongst our kids will continue.
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