Adolescent Gambling Prevention Program

Designed To Educate Guidance Personnel, Student AssistanceCounselors, Parents, and Teachers

Compulsive gambling is often described as:

• An uncontrollable and overwhelming need to Gamble
• The "Hidden Epidemic"
• The addiction of the 90's
• An impulse control disorder
• "Action" oriented
• A progressive stimulant behavior disorder
• Reinforced by "Excitement"

Odds Are A Teen Gambler Is:

• Intellectually Astute
• Articulate
• Sociable
• Charming and Loving
• Philanthropic
• Energized and Enduring
• A Risk Taker
• Achievement Oriented
• Dreaming of the "Big Win"
• Clever ... rationalizes and justifies the
• compulsive behavior
• Focused on hobbies which include gambling
• Often Insecure &endash; manifesting low
• self esteem
• Unrealistic about goals
• "Hooked" by distorted optimism

Teens Addicted to Gambling:

• Display intense interest in sports related literature and sporting events
• Accumulate racing and numbers data, record sheets, and racing forms
• Spend excessive time on the phone often calling sports phone or N.J. lottery
• Flash large amounts of money
• Exaggerate their clothes or jewelry
• Cultivate gambling language
• Play to escape problems or disappointments
• Lose time from school and social gatherings
• Experience a drop in grades and loss of non gambling friends
• May become addicted to alcohol and other drugs
• Often resort to illegal activities to finance their gambling

Teens resort to illegal acts as their debts increase, including . . .

• stealing or shoplifting
• selling drugs or bookmaking
• embezzling or employer theft

Recovery Works--Compulsive gamblers are helped by:

• Early recognition by parents, teachers, and friends
• Referral to the school's guidance personnel
• Confrontation by or with their parents
• Outpatient counseling
• Support groups
• Involvement in Gamblers Anonymous
• Family and friends who attend Gam Anon

Teens and the Family

• Initial experience of gambling within the family.
• Card games, bingo, family outings to the racetrack or casino
• Gambling consumes family time and the teen is often absent from family activities
• Excessive debts are thrust upon the family
• Mistrust builds and family relationships become strained, eventually breaking down
• Family members often become co-dependent

The Games Teens Play ...

Sports Betting and Pools, Lottery, Cards & Dice, Casinos and Racetracks

If you want to GAMBLE, That's your business!

If you want to STOP, THAT'S OURS

Bergen County Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, Inc. (201) 261-2183