Gambling may be just a game, but for some, it’s much more. It’s an addiction.

It may not seem like a startling statistic, but “research finds that 2%-3% of the population,” about 6-9 million Americans, “will have a gambling problem in any given year.” (http://www.npgam.org/)

That’s why The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is raising awareness for problem gambling this March with National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (NPGAM).

Originally one week long to coincide with March Madness (one of the most widely bet upon events in the U.S.), NPGAM aims to educate the public and healthcare professionals about the dangers of gambling.

Navigate Problem Gambling

“Navigate Problem Gambling,” the 2014 theme, could not be more appropriate. Along with the fact sheets, ads, and other materials provided by NCPG, DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence- Rochester Area (NCADD-RA) and the New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) offers free tool kits, infographics and ads:

(Click images to view larger)

English

Spanish

NCADD-RA and NYCPG will co-sponsor “Problem Gambling: Focus on Social Media Gambling and VLTs” on April 9, 2014 at Mario’s Restaurant & Catering in Rochester, NY (register here).

Guest speaker Jeffery L. Derevensky, Ph.D. will present “Internet and Social Media Gaming/Gambling” and “Perspectives on Teen Risky Behaviors: Is Gambling Perceived to be Risky?” Guest speaker Natasha Dow Schüll, Ph.D will present “Problem Gambling: Addiction by Design?”

For more information on the Problem Gambling Prevention Program, please contact Jennifer Faringer, NCADD-RA Director, at (585) 719-3480 or jfaringer@depaul.org.