Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services …

Ohio law requires OhioMHAS to promote, assist in the development of, and coordinate or conduct programs for gambling addiction. The constitutional amendment that brought casinos to Ohio also includes OhioMHAS as the authority expected to address problem and pathological gambling. This amendment includes a requirement that two percent of the tax on the casinos gross revenue go to the State Problem Casino Gambling and Addictions Fund to support efforts to alleviate problem gambling and substance abuse and related research in Ohio.

To date, OhioMHAS collaborates with the Ohio Lottery Commission, local communities, alcohol and other drug treatment providers, county ADAMHS Boards, faith-based entities, and others to reduce problem gambling and to establish and improve gambling treatment and prevention services for Ohioans. With funding support from the Ohio Lottery Commission, OhioMHAS funds six problem gambling programs statewide in conjunction with alcohol and other drug addiction treatment services. The programs are in Athens, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, and Youngstown. In addition, OhioMHAS coordinates a one-day problem gambling prevention and treatment conference each year during Problem Gambling Week in March.

Ensuring that the addiction services field is ready and able to serve Ohioans with problem or pathological gambling is another role of OhioMHAS. For this reason, the Department has been providing statewide and regional trainings for addictions counselors so that Ohio has adequate staffing levels to address problem gambling behaviors as they arise.

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Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services ...