'Know the Rules of the Game’ - Problem Gambling Awareness Efforts Focused on Lane County Youth

Contact: Julie Hynes, 682.3928

Official news release here

Related:

• 2007 Problem Gambling Awareness Week

•  Lane County launches parent-focused public service announcements! Listen to the announcements here (30 sec.; 60 sec.)

• Youth Gambling

Above: Poster by Elsa B. of Monroe Middle School's Ms. Kerr-Daly's class in Eugene, will be featured on the sides of LTD buses around Lane County throughout March.

For Immediate Release 03/06/07

Local Transit Buses to Feature Youth-Created Posters That Raise Awareness of Problem Gambling

Contacts: Julie Hynes, coordinator of Lane County Health and Human Services’ "Know the Rules of the Game" Problem Gambling Prevention Program, 682-3928; Sarah Kerr-Daly, Monroe Middle School teacher, 687-3254

Media Visual Op: Gambling awareness posters may be viewed before their public debut by contacting Hynes

Problem gambling is a serious and fast-growing public health issue.

About 75,000 Oregonian adults meet the criteria for problem or pathological gambling behavior, according to Julie Hynes, Lane County’s "Know the rules of the Game" problem gambling prevention program coordinator. Additionally, more youth are being affected by problem gambling.

To raise awareness about this growing community concern and spotlight recent gambling trends, the Lane County Health and Human Services’ Problem Gambling Prevention Program will run local students' posters on Lane Transit District buses during the month of March.

Hundreds of Lane County middle school students have participated in the Oregon Problem Gambling Awareness Week poster contest for five years running. In this sixth year of the contest, students’ posters from previous years will be used to raise awareness.

"Gambling isn’t usually harmful—but it can be every bit as addictive as alcohol and drugs," said Hynes. "All too often, we as a community see gambling as a harmless alternative to alcohol or drug use. And while it’s a nice thought, it just isn’t true."

Youth gambling and other risky behaviors are connected. Data released from the 2006 Oregon Healthy Teens eighth and 11th grade surveys (Department of Human Services) showed that kids who gamble are:

Research shows that the earlier in life people begin to gamble, the more at risk they are for developing gambling problems later in life. One in 25 Oregon youth ages 13-17 already meet the criteria for being problem gamblers, and the trend could be increasing with the recent popularity of poker and Internet gambling. Consequences of problem gambling include more than just debt; families and jobs are often lost, and depression and alcohol or drug abuse is quite common among problem gamblers.

Texas Hold’em style poker has become a highly popular game in the last few years, and according to Hynes, most middle students have seen or heard about poker or other gambling shows on TV. In fact, a survey of about 2,500 teens throughout Oregon showed that card bets are now the most popular form of gambling, surpassing sports bets and even games against one another. While the majority of people who engage in occasional gambling do not have a problem, card-type games among friends may lead into future problem behavior.

Hynes states many young students even know the names of Internet gambling sites, and have often played on these sites.

"The problem won’t develop overnight…so it’s important for parents to talk with their kids about gambling, model realistic expectations about money, set limits with their own spending, and know the warning signs of a problem," Hynes said.

Lane County is again offering up the middle school poster contest, with prizes to all participants, to help heighten awareness about the problem among youth and in schools. Problem gambling prevention experts hope that problem gambling will be soon be seen as an issue that gets attention in health and addiction education.

Need Help?

Gambling treatment is free and confidential for problem gamblers and their loved ones. Help is available in Lane County through the emergence gambling treatment program, (541) 741-7107, or the 24-hour gambling help line, 1.877.MY.LIMIT.

Information about problem gambling is available at Lane County’s problem gambling Web site, www.lanecounty.org/prevention/gambling. Additional responsible gambling and problem gambling materials are available through the program free of charge.

More information about the poster contest can be obtained by contacting Hynes at (541) 682-3928, or julie.hynes@co.lane.or.us. Poster contest flyers can also be downloaded at http://www.lanecounty.org/prevention/gambling/poster_search.htm.

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