Gambling As An Addiction
In today's society we American's suffer from many addictions. Some people have a drinking problem. Other people have a nicotine addiction. And then there are those who can not seem to kick the illegal drug use. But, all of these addictions are well known and can be treated almost as easily as the common cold. For example, smokers not only have the patch, but they have prescribed gum, billboards and commercials telling people not to smoke, and health programs in schools across the country advising kids not to smoke by showing them ungodly pictures of the effects smoking has to the inside of a person's body. Oh, and let's not forget about the over budgeted attempt to help those who have a drinking problem. It seems that we have done everything from banning alcohol, to setting up A. A. programs, to having interventions. Then we have the lawbreakers-those who use and sell drugs. Heck, everybody goes out of his or her way to rehabilitate these people and advise them not to do drugs by creative commercials and school programs.But what about those people who suffer from a gambling addiction. Most people just think that there is nothing wrong with these people except for the fact that they are stupid
enough to gamble away their money. What most people do not know is that gambling can be a compulsion where people are so obsessed with gambling that they gamble for a high. Much like people who have alcohol, drug, and nicotine addictions- there is little help out there for people who have gambling addictions because of that misconception. One reason researchers believe to be a cause of gambling addictions would be if there was a family history or genetic precondition to compulsive gambling. In fact, other addictions, such as smoking and drinking, also are believed to have the same existing cause. Marriot points out that "... studies are being conducted to learn whether there is a genetic precondition to problem gambling, much like it is generally believed to exist for alcoholism" (60). This is a big step in helping to define addictive gambling as a disease which needs psychiatric help like other similar addictions. Rosenthal, however, takes it a step further by mentioning that a possible cause of pathological gambling may be because of "a family history of compulsive gambling. In today's society, as many as one third of compulsive gamblers have a biological relative with the disorder. It is not unusual to find such a history extending through two or three generations" (70). This confirmed fact can help make others see that those who are addicted to gambling are not always the ones at fault. Also it may help potential gamblers to catch the problem before it becomes a problem. The last method of treatment for a pathological gambler is to send them to a program such as Gamblers Anonymous. This is the best and only proven way to stop compulsive gambling. One example, which Virginia Young reported on, is about a guy named Vince who "... gets a boost in November when he starts attending counseling twice a week, for individual and group therapy. The state pays for the program for problem gamblers and their families" (3-4). This is example of a guy who is receiving help from the government for free. Virginia Young and Kim Bell stated "With the support of Gamblers Anonymous, she has stayed bet-free for three years" (7). This is great. Finally, a person has been treated successfully for this disease. In conclusion, problem gambling in today's society is far greater than anyone 30 years ago could have imagined. It is a dangerous addiction which many Americans don't take seriously. This addiction like any other addiction can take over and destroy your life. That is why we must see to put an end to it by stopping what causes the addiction. But to be able to stop compulsive gambling we must first recognize gambling as an addiction. The main factor in any addiction is the availability of the product. In this addiction it is not the availability but rather the legalization of gambling. For instance, Rosenthal stated that "There is no doubt that, when it comes to gambling, greater legalization brings about greater accessibility. Particularly when coupled with aggressive marketing, this produces an increase in the number of gamblers, as well as the number of compulsive gamblers" (68-69). What this means is that the more and more gambling becomes legal, the more and more compulsive gamblers there are. Lesieur also confirms Rosenthal's statements by stating that there is evidence which "...suggests that in areas where more forms of gambling are legal, the incidence of problem and pathological (compulsive) gambling is also higher" (72). This last statement proves that the only way to solv
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Approximate Word count = 2384
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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