Back Then ... at least, 10 Years Ago
This month, I gave a presentation to teachers, all members of an honorary organization of women educators. The program was entitled, TEEN GAMBLING: An Emerging Concern for a Healthier America. The PowerPoint was an updated version of one I had presented at a United Methodist sponsored 2008 national conference, in the Washington, D.C., area. As I reviewed the slides' details, I marveled at two realities: (1) the statistics for teen gambling, at the turn of the 21st century, were and presently are similarly alarming; and (2) the early cautions concerning youth involvement in internet betting (and like endeavors) bear even deeper depths of warning now!
To illustrate the above, take note of the following statements circa 1998- 2004.
- 1998 Louisiana State University Study of Problem Gambling in the State of Indiana: Survey of Indiana Adolescents in Grades 6-12 ... Problem Gambling Rate: 11.2%; Compulsive Gambling Rate: 7.5%
- Year 2000: In a recent review of 14 U.S. and 6 Canadian Adolescent Gambling Studies, researchers found that in the past 10 years, the number of teenagers ages 12 to 17 reporting serious gambling problems has increased by 50%. The age of onset for gambling has dropped so that now throughout America, the majority of 12 year-olds have already gambled. (Jacobs 2000)
- March 2001: The American Psychiatric Association issued a mental health advisory on Internet gambling and addiction, with a special emphasis on the dangers for young people.
- 2003 Nebraska Risk & Protective Factor Student Survey: Of the students who had gambled, the most common age to begin is 10 or younger for both genders; ... 80-90% parents report knowing their children gamble for money and do not object.
- 2005: National Council on Problem Gambling ... 30-45% of college students gamble on a weekly basis ... 8% of college-age adults are pathological gamblers
With this said, I want to share again, in the spirit of awareness, information on the January 29-30 Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling Annual Education and Awareness Conference and the January 30 - February 1 Lexington GA/Gam-Anon Mini-Conference.
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 18th 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.
** ALSO, if you are planning to attend the Clergy/Lay Ministers training sessions (beginning Thursday morning), PLEASE INDICATE THIS ON YOUR KENTUCKY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION.
Registration details for the Conference can be found on the Kentucky Council's website at
www.kycpg.org and/or by contacting the Council's Executive Director Mike Stone at kmstone@mis.net
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.
Along with the Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification Training Sessions (Trainers, Curtis Barrett, Ph.D. and Rev. Janet Jacobs), other highlights of the Conference feature topics on Sports Gambling (Speakers, Tom Brew and Rick Benson), Prevention Efforts (Speaker, Julie Hynes), PTSD, Military, & Gambling (Speaker, Jose Flores), PTSD & Veterans (Speaker, Dr. Lionel Phelps), and Problem Gambling Awareness in Eastern Kentucky Research (Speaker, Rev. Scott Hunt, Ph.D.).
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 This open conference begins at 5:30, on Friday, January 30, with a Joint Reception (refreshments) with the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling and the Mini-Conference participants.
I close this month's GRM Blog with a certain and ominous conclusion from the 2003 Nebraska Survey (see above):
With the increase in gambling in the U.S., the true impact on youth will likely take years to realize.
Amen!
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Jacobs
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries
For more information on problem gambling and recovery issues, visit www.grmumc.org
