GA Youth Learn About Gambling Advertising, Addiction – Jamestown Post Journal

Tracy Jesperson, Chautauqua Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council, speaks with students of G.A. Family Services Accountability and Responsibility program about gambling advertisements and addiction. P-J photo by Gavin Paterniti

The dangers of gambling and addiction were the focal points of a presentation at G.A. Family Services this week.

On Monday, the partnership between the Chautauqua Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council and the G.A.s Accountability and Responsibility program yielded a teaching moment aimed at preventing local youth from making unhealthy decisions about gambling.

The presentation was given by Tracy Jesperson, CASACs prevention educator, who spoke with three Accountability and Responsibility program students about recognizing and analyzing gambling advertisements; thereby helping them to make a more informed choice about participating in gambling in the future. The students were given the definitions of gambling and addiction, and were then handed examples of actual advertisements advocating for gambling.

Many New York state youth gamble despite the fact that it can turn into an addiction, and its illegal in many forms, Jesperson said. One of the factors that play a part in this decision is youth exposure to gambling advertising. Advertisements are created not only using written language, but also visual and sensory language. So learning to critically view these advertisements so that youre able to understand the advertisers motivation and accuracy level of these advertisements is an important skill necessary to make healthy decisions.

Jesperson said individuals are more likely to be struck by lightning at some point throughout their lives than to win a large sum of money via a lottery jackpot. The presentation was intended to raise awareness among youth about the media and the ways in which it can impact their lives, consciously or subconsciously, by teaching them media literacy.

G.A. Family Services Accountability and Responsibility Program is an afterschool program that focuses on at-risk youth and helps develop life skills and positive decision-making. It admits up to 10 teenagers, ages 13-18, per cycle, all of whom were referred by a juvenile probation officer or the Department of Social Services Child Services.

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