Board of Health and Gambling
by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker
March
01, 2006
Services for people experiencing problems related to
their gambling and their families are available in all
health authorities. Experienced counselors working in
outpatient centers offer all services. Problem gambling
counseling services delivered by regional health
authorities are available free of charge to residents.
Members of the public who have been overloaded with
personal debt and are at the point of losing their
property may access the services of the Board. A small
fee may be required when setting up a debt repayment
arrangement. It is the provincial government department
mandated to co-ordinate the efforts of Regional Health
Authorities, government departments, community groups
and agencies, and the gaming industry to provide
services related to the prevention, education and
treatment of gambling problems. Health views problem
gambling as a health issue that can be supported through
health prevention and treatment strategies. Health is
committed to the health and wellness of individuals and
communities in Saskatchewan by providing a province-wide
system of high quality and effective problem gambling
services. All Regional Health Authorities in
Saskatchewan provide problem gambling outpatient
counseling services. Specialized day treatment, seniors
and aboriginal counseling services are available in some
Regional Health Authorities. In-patient services are
also available to clients in need. Clients who wish to
receive problem gambling treatment can contact their
local Regional Health
Authority. The term "addiction" used to be exclusive to
chemicals such as alcohol, drugs, or nicotine. With
recent research on the brain and its processes, we now
understand that many behaviors can become as chemically
addictive as a substance. Gambling can be such an
addiction.
Signs and symptoms of gambling:
There is little logic in the gambling. Among the common
elements relevant to all gamblers irrespective of their
subgroup are:
Association of gambling with "subjective excitement,
dissociation, and increased heart rate" often described
as "equivalent to a drug-induced 'high.' "
Downward spiral of gambling – when gamblers lose, they
attempt to recoup losses through further chasing. Even
if they acknowledge the reality that gambling has led
them into financial problems, they irrationally believe
that gambling will solve their problems.
Subjective allure of the addiction
Self-feeding nature of the addictive cycle.
Predisposition to magical solutions that is central to
the addiction experience.
Most of the people play gambling regularly and get
disappointed because of losing. They get headaches and
don’t sleep properly. And most of the times they drink
liquor and they don’t eat food and starve themselves for
weeks.
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