Gambling Addiction

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Recommended: Positive and negative effects of gambling

Gambling addiction has become very real, very quick, to me and my friends and family. My best friend’s mother, Beverly Roan, is currently incarcerated at Sandy Mush Correctional Facility in Merced, California after allegedly embezzling over $350,000.00 from her employer to fund her gambling addiction. Beverly is a 58 year old mother of three, and grandmother of eight; no one ever suspected this level of addiction or criminal activity based on our daily interactions with her. We were shocked and appalled when she was arrested at her work back in February. We were completely unaware that her penchant for going to Chukchansi to play the slot machines had evolved into a full-fledged gambling addiction. Pathological gambling has become a devastating mental illness plaguing millions of Americans.

Compulsive gambling is considered to be a type of impulse-control disorder. Even when the addict is aware that their addiction is negatively affecting their life, they cannot stop the impulse to gamble regardless of the consequences. The mental health community distinguishes between problem gambling and gambling addiction. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that affects your life. Gambling addiction is where the person is unable to resist the impulse to gamble. The must gamble regardless of the consequences. A common myth is that problem gamblers have to gamble every day. When in reality it can be either frequent or infrequent. It is normally cyclic. Where there are periods of gambling, followed by rest periods and then back to gambling. People can go for months without gambling and still be considered to have a gambling addiction (Saison).

Another myth associated with gambling is that it’s a mental disorder for men, ...

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...r mother at this time. This is forcing her to get the help she so desperately needs. I would encourage anyone who thinks they might possibly have a gambling problem to seek help immediately, don’t wait until it’s too late.

Works Cited

Dryden-Edwards, MD, Roxanne. "Gambling Addiction Statistics, Treatment, Disorder Facts, Causes and Symptoms by MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet. Ed. William C. Chiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR. Web. 12 May 2011. .

"Gamblers Anonymous: Q and A." Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page. Web. 12 May 2011. .

"Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling: Signs, Help, and Treatment." Helpguide.org: Expert, Ad-free Articles Help Empower You with Knowledge, Support & Hope. Web. 12 May 2011. .

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