Gambling can affect mental health: Here’s what to do about it – WBAL TV Baltimore

Gambling can affect mental health: Here's what to do about it

Updated: 1:54 PM EDT Mar 14, 2022

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

AND INTOHE T START OF NEXT WEEKEND. JENNIFER: MARCH IS GAMBLING AWARENESS NTH.MO GETTING WORD OUT ABOUT RISK FACTORS, JOININGS U MORE FROM MARYLAND PEACE OF MIND, MARY DREXLER FROM THE PROGRAM CENTER. APPRECIATE JOIN US THIS MORNING. >> THANK YOU. JENNIFER: EXPLAIN TO FOS,LK WHAT IS PROEMBL GAMBLING? >> IT'S WHEN SOMEBODY ENGAGES IN GAMBLING ACTIVITY TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO STOP THEIR GAMBLIN OGR CONTROL IT. AND THEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. JENNIFER: LIKE AN ADDICTION. >> IT'S AN ADDICTION LIKE ANY OTHER. NOT EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES IT AS AN ADDICTION AS OF YET, BUT IT DEFINITELY CAN TURN INTO AN ADDICTION. JENNIFER: LIKE MYAN ADDICTIONS, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE WHEN IT'S BECOME AN ADDICTION AND IS A PROBLEM. THAT'S SOMETHING A FILAMY MEMBER OR FRIEND WILL NOTEIC FIRST. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT? >> IF YOU NOTICE THAT SOMEONE IS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE GAMBLING ACTIVITY, ARE BEING SECRETIVE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE AT THE MOMENT, ARE STAINRTG TO LIE ABOUTHE T GAMBLING ACTIVITY THAT THEY'VE BEEN PARTICIPATIN GIN, IT STARTS TO IMPACT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, IT COULD IMPACT THEIR JOB, AND THEN THEY LOOK FOR BAIL-OUTS. THEY GO TO FAMILYND A FRIENDS FOR MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE GAMBLING MORE AND MORE. >> I CANT CAUSE A LOT OF SHAME, I WOULD IMAGINE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY. WHAT OTHER WAYS DOES TSHI AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH? >> YES. DEFINITELY DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. THAT IS HUGE. WHEN IT COMES TO GAMBLI.NG IT DOESN'T OCCUR IN A VACUUM. IT OFTEN IS ACCPANIEDOM WITH OTHE RCO-OCCURRING DISORDERS LIKE SUBSTANCE USE. SOMEBODY MAY HEAV A DIAGNOSIS OF SOME MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER. SO, YOU KNOW, WE JTUS NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SOMEONE'S LIFE AND PAY SOME ATTENTION AND MAYBE ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAMBLING THAT THEY'RE DOING. JENNIFER: WHAT SORT OF THISNG DO YOU DO AT THE CENTER TO HELP PEOPLE? >> THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING IS HERE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY AND INFORMED CHOICES REGARDING GAMBLING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING. WE'RE NEUTRAL ON THE ISSUE OF LEGALIZED GAMBLING. WE DO PREVENTNIO ACTIVITIES. WE HELP PEOPLE GET TO THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED IF THEY CALL OUR HELP LINE, WCHHI IS CRUCIAL. IT'S ONE OF OUR MAIN RESOURCES IS 800-GAMBLER HEER FOR MARYLAND RESIDENTS. THERE'S A WEBSITE, HELPMYGMBLEINGPROBLEM.ORG. PEOPLE CAN GO ONLINE, FIND CLINICIANS, GET INFORMATION, TAKE A SELF-ASSESSMENT TO SEE IF THEY THINK THEY MAY HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM. JENNIFER: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FITRS WAYS THAT YOU WORK WITH SOMEBODY WITH A GAMBLING ADDICTION? IT'S DIFFERENT FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT TAKING THAT -- IN A WAY, YOU'RE TAKING A SUBSTANCE AWAY FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL. HOW DOES THIS BEGIN? >> WELL, IT'S SO HARD BECAUSE GAMBLING, NUMBER ONE, IS ABOUT HIDDEN ADDICTION. YOU CAN'T SEE IT LIKEOU Y CAN SEE OTRHE ADDICTIONS. BUT BY CALL THE HELP LINE, THE WAYS WE CAN HELP IS THERE ARE, RIGHT NOW, OVER 120 TREATMENT PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE, EITHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS THAT CAN HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DEALING WH AIT GAMBLING PROBLEM. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ASSETSS I PEER RECOVERY SUP SPORT SPECIALISTS COVERING THE ENTIRE STATE. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERIENCE. IF YOU CALL THE HELP LINE, YOU CAN BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY, IMMEDIATELY TO A PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST. SOMEONE WHO KWSNO WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. JENNIFER: THAT IS SO CRUCIAL, SOMEONE THAT CAN RELATE. YOU MENTIONED OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE WAY YOU'RE DOING THAT IS EDUCATION WITH CASINO WORKERS. >> YES. HWEAVE DONE -- WE'VE COMPLETED ONE OF THEM RIGHT NOW. WE ARE REDOING FIVE OTHER CASINOS. WE GO TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE OF THE CASINOS AND THAT IS TO EDUCATE EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE ISSUE OF PROBLEM GAMBLING, NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR PATRSON AS WELL. EMPLOYEES OF GAMBLING FACILITIES ARE AT HIGHER RISK. THEY'RE INTRODUCED TO IT ALL THE TIME. WE WKOR COLLABORATIVELY WITH CASINOS TO DO SO. JENNIFER: IF SOMEONE WANTS INFORMATION, WHERE CAN THEY FIND HELP? >>1-800-GAMBLER. IT WILL CONNECTOU Y TO HELP LINE STAFF TO GETOU Y TO TREATMENT OR A RECOVERY SUPRTPO SPECIALIS

Gambling can affect mental health: Here's what to do about it

Updated: 1:54 PM EDT Mar 14, 2022

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling is getting the word out about risk factors and where to get help. Mary Drexler, the center's program director, explains how gambling can affect mental health.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling is getting the word out about risk factors and where to get help. Mary Drexler, the center's program director, explains how gambling can affect mental health.

Excerpt from:

Gambling can affect mental health: Here's what to do about it - WBAL TV Baltimore