GIFT RESPONSIBLY!
Earlier this month, at the American Board's Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification Training in New Jersey, our presenter of clinical curriculum spoke about "gifting responsibly" ... that is, being mindful of the age-appropriateness factor when giving presents to children. He shared that as a child on family vacations, he and his brother would each be given money for a roll of arcade tickets - to last for the week. However, by the first day's closing, he - unlike his brother - would have spent all of his money! The rush, the thrill, the excitement of winning (or almost winning) was far too tempting to keep on spending rather than to parcel out tickets for each day.
This month of December finds many folks spending and spending. It seems the "season of gift-giving" can occupy the mind - and wallet! Finances stretched; time spent shopping (and fighting traffic); angst over how much to give whom ... YES, definitely, we can make a point on each topic concerning how we approach and carry out gifting others. And they all have a great deal to say about healthy perspectives and responses. Yet there's another angle to gifting responsibly when it comes to problem gambling and recovery issues.
Sometimes, adults gift children in ways they would enjoy receiving. The present might be something they had hoped for as a child or now as an adult. Yes, you guessed it, how about lottery tickets or scratch-offs. Of course, the child cannot cash in a winning ticket - but the grown-up can. Unfortunately, often these thoughts do not go beyond that point. However, it's a serious argument to say that giving such opportunities to minors to gamble can set in motion hopes, aspirations, and/or feelings of excitement to a mind not ready to understand the reality of gambling as only a chance (not a certainty) for winning.
Therefore, December's GRM Blog carries a Press Release from the National Council on Problem Gambling. Below are the first three paragraphs of the article. For the full report, go to www.problemgambling.com It is a timely reminder for us to give responsibly!
STUFF STOCKINGS RESPONSIBLY
If you give a lottery product as a gift, please make sure you keep the person's age in mind. Studies suggest that gambling remains a popular activity among youth and adolescents who receive lottery tickets as gifts tend to begin gambling earlier in life - a possible risk factor for more severe gambling problems. Researchers have also reported a correlation between age of gambling onset and problem gambling.
This information, along with the concern about adolescent problem gambling, has prompted the National Council on problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University as well as dozens of lottery corporations around the globe to collaborate in the annual Holiday Campaign aimed at increasing public awareness about the impact of gifting lottery products to underage minors.
NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte explained that it's vital to raise awareness because research has shown that some problem gamblers report beginning gambling during childhood - as early as 9-10 years of age. "The Holiday Campaign is a way to remind people that they can keep the fun in the holidays by gifting lottery tickets responsibly to adults."
UPDATE ON CLERGY/LAY MINISTERS CERTIFICATION TRAININGS
In collaboration with the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, initial Training Sessions for the Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification (sponsored by the American Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Board) will take place before and during the Kentucky Council's 16th Annual Problem Gambling Educational and Awareness Conference on January 29-30, 2015. The Conference will be held at the Clarion Hotel in Lexington, KY (I-64/75 at Newtown Pike, Lexington). These sessions will compose the beginning segment of the required curriculum for national certification.
Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification Sessions will begin on Thursday, January 29 at 9:00 AM at the Clarion. The Conference begins, also, on Thursday ... at 1:00 and continues until Friday at 5:00 PM.
Registration details for the Conference can be found on the Kentucky Council's website at
www.kycpg.org
Hotel room group rate deadline is January 8. Make room reservations to jgunsten@clarionhotellex.com
50 Scholarships are available for the $100 registration fee and one night's lodging. Apply to kmstone@mis.net Application for scholarship application is January 5.
ALSO, if you are planning to attend the Clergy/Lay Ministers training sessions (beginning Thursday morning), PLEASE INDICATE THIS ON YOUR KENTUCKY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION.
For information on the Lexington GA/Gam-Anon Mini-Conference on January 30-February 1 at the Clarion Hotel in Lexington, visit www.gamblersanonymous.org
I hope to see many of you next month in Lexington!
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Jacobs
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries
For more information on problem gambling and recovery issues, go to www.grmumc.org
