Gambling Recovery Ministries: Indiana Problem Gambling

Post 46

December: LIFE LIGHTS

Lights on the rooftops and bushes, lights on menorahs, candlelight services, lights on Christmas trees … lights, lights, lights!  

Throughout this month of December, it would be hard to miss light displays – inside and outside!  Christians hear, once again, the nativity story of the baby Jesus born in a stable - thus coming as the Light to a World shadowed by darkness and bondage.  Jews celebrate Chanukah to remember the Holy Temple’s menorah burning miraculously for eight days - with only a one-day supply of uncontaminated oil - following a miraculous victory against one of the mightiest armies on earth at the time.  

Indeed, the multitudes of light in December are welcomed as the days grow shorter and night time comes so quickly that darkness falls - even before suppertime!    

For December’s Blog, I want to share with you a special visit that my husband and I experienced recently.  We were invited to tour the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center  www.corps.salvationarmyindiana.org/harborlight/welcome/about-us/  in Indianapolis.  We found a multi-use facility for detox (Indiana’s only public detox unit), residential treatment, and transitional housing … along with many accompanying services.  Throughout our visit, I kept thinking how the light of hope filled each wing and corner of the Center!

Interestingly, a good number of the clients are receiving help for several issues – including compulsive gambling.  I asked how there happened to be so many undergoing treatment for gambling problems; and the answer was clear: assessment is made for problem gambling along with other issues.  As it has been said before by countless others, if you don’t ask, you probably won’t hear!    

With this said, however, I do want to add that if the assessment is made, be prepared!  Indiana, as well as quite a few other States, offer training in problem gambling counseling.  Information on the Indiana trainings can be found on the Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness Program website (www.ipgap.indiana.edu ).   For information on national certification for problem gambling counseling, go to www.ipgap.indiana.edu/problem-gambling/certification .

Also, you can see a listing of Indiana’s problem gambling treatment providers listed on the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling website at www.indianaproblemgambling.org/providers.cfm . 

Then too, the California Office of Problem Gambling lists the State’s treatment providers on their webpage http://problemgambling.securespsites.com/ccpgwebsite/help-available/treatment-services.aspx . 
 Additionally, the California Council on Problem Gambling provides lists of treatment providers at  www.calproblemgambling.org/all-resources .

For information on problem gambling treatment providers in other States, go to the National Council on Problem Gambling web page on resources by States:  www.ncpgambling.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3311 .  

As we close out this year of 2013, I will ask a simple question: how many times have each of us brought light into another person’s world?  It is my prayer that we can be light bearers of hope – in small and large ways – to all we meet … regardless of how minor we may think our impact is on others!

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs

Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries

For more information on problem gambling recovery issues, go to www.grmumc.org