Welcome to Recovery Month! The month of September is dedicated to celebrating recovery for individuals and families in recovery from addiction. Therefore, it’s a time to celebrate the successes and the challenges that were overcome on the journey of recovery from problem gambling and other addictions.
Understanding Recovery
Recovery from gambling is when someone has identified their gambling harm. The gambling harm that has been the result of their gambling behavior. This gambling harm can be in the form of financial difficulties, as well as damage to relationships, academic performance, employment, and mental health.
Recovery is a journey, a marathon, not a sprint. It is a journey focusing on one day at a time abstaining from behaviors that fuel addiction. That first step can be a call for help.
Younger Populations and Gambling
Focusing on younger populations and recovery is important. Youth and young adults struggle with addiction at twice the rate of the general population. Additionally, they can become addicted to gambling much quicker than the general population.
Empowering younger populations and parents with knowledge about their gambling is one of our highest priorities. Empowerment allows everyone to understand the consequences of gambling, what activities are considered gambling, and the actions we can take to avoid or prevent gambling harm.
This is becoming more important because younger populations are savvier with technology. With the availability of mobile/online gambling, finding ways to gamble is getting easier for our younger populations every day. These include mobile sports betting, online casino gambling, gambling on video gaming, and daily fantasy sports. Therefore, youth and young adults may get addicted to gambling at a faster rate than the general population through technology use.
Empowering Youth – YOU Decide
If you have made the choice NOT to gamble, you are not alone. 77% of youth in grades 7-12 are already not gambling. Therefore, not gambling puts you in the majority. Gambling can easily be replaced by other exciting activities.
It may feel uncomfortable at first but finding new friends who don’t gamble may not be as hard as you think. There are many activities you already enjoy, such as mountain bike riding, surfing, action parks, and weightlifting. Once you know what you love to do most, you can find peers who also enjoy these activities.
Young Adults – Your Future, Your Choices
How do you choose to spend your time and money? Young adults tend to have more disposable income, or “extra money” and more time to spend it. It’s important to know the true chances of winning in gambling. Compared to winning a large sum lottery jack pot, you are more likely to:
- Become an astronaut in the next 50 years,
- Pick a 4-leaf clover on the 1st try,
- Be struck by lightning,
- Test as a genius, or
- Win an Oscar.
Thinking about these possibilities, it’s abundantly clear that the odds of gambling and winning are very slim. Therefore, there are many ways to better use your money and time. Whether it’s on education, clubs and volunteer service, sports gear and participation, or saving up to buy a home or start a business, it’s all up to you. Find out what you want in life andmake the best use of your money and time by working towards your goals.
Parents – You Have the Power to Prevent Gambling Harm
As a parent, YOU have the power to support your youth. You can take action to prevent gambling harm by learning as much as you can about gambling.
Listen for gambling language, such as sports gambling terms and language that indicates gambling in gaming. It’s important to know the warning signs that indicate a potential problem. These could include family withdrawal, decreasing grades, struggles with relationships, poor health maintenance, and even signs of hurting themselves.
If you are concerned about a loved one, know there are resources and support available to you and your loved one. You are not alone. Your youth or young adult is not alone. Recovery supports are available.
Community Influencers – You Can Make a Difference
Are youth and young adults you work with gambling? Would you know if they were? Working to help prevent youth and young adult gambling can also help to prevent other addictive behaviors. These additional behaviors include using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
There are several things you can do to reduce or prevent our younger populations from gambling. When you are having conversations with youth about alcohol, tobacco and other substances, you can incorporate discussing gambling as well.
As a community influencer you also have the power to reduce availability and exposure to gambling for youth. We have free materials to support your efforts, such as policies prohibiting gambling, and holding gambling free events. Check out our Community Influencers section for more information.
Celebrating You
Whether you are taking action as a youth, young adult, parent, or community influencer, we celebrate you. We celebrate your efforts to prevent our young people from experiencing gambling related harm.
Recovery Support
If you find yourself struggling with gambling harm, or if you suspect someone you know is facing such challenges, don’t hesitate to seek help. For 24/7 support, call the NYS OASAS HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 or text 467369. Or choose your county using our interactive map on our NYProblemGamblingHELP.org HOME PAGE to see the contact information for the Problem Gambling Resource Center (PGRC) in your region.