The National Study (a survey of parents), released on December 8, 2009, that ranked underage gambling as dead last, must have had some serious flaws in its study design or alternatively the wrong parents were interviewed.
Going back more than a decade, reliable study after reliable study shous that the increase in underage gambling and correspondingly an increase in the number of adolescent gambling addicts has been alarming.
To quote one such reliable study was one completed at the Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions in 1997 that estimated, at that time, the number of adult gambling addicts in the US at 7.5 million BUT the number of adolescent gambling addicts at 7.9 million (i.e. much higher than the adult population).
The main reason for this higher number is simply that adolescents and teens have not yet gained the impulse control and good judgment needed to refrain from compulsive behavior of any kind. In fact, research has always shown that the earlier one begins to gamble, the more likely such a person is to develop addictive behavior.
As already stated above, the other reason for the ranking (i.e. dead last) of underage gambling is the possibility that the wrong parents were interviewed.
Since its inception in the early 90's, Jubilation Program, a local social agency offering services to single moms, young parents and children, has been assessing new admissions to any of its many programs. Part of this detailed assessment shows us measurable levels of anxiety, stress, self-image, communication ability, as well as levels of various dependency behaviors including gambling.
Two specific gambling screening tools we used are the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the 20 questions of Gamblers Anonymous. Recently, we randomly pulled well over 100 ex client files and specifically looked at the gambling dependency figures.
The results were both astounding and alarming. While 35.6 per cent claimed having had no involvement with gambling of any kind,
• 32.5 per cent claimed to have gambled within a lifetime (most of our clients are relatively young)
• 9 per cent showed as, according to the SOGS, as "probable" gambling dependent individuals
• 22.7 per cent showed as, according to the SOGS and corroberated by the GA20. as definite gambling dependent individuals
These are local young people - many of them young parents with children.
Many of our clients have a multiple layer of socio-behavioral problems and having a "probable or definite" gambling problem added to their repertoire is certainly not helpful. Jubilation is now further analyzing all of its findings in this informal, in-house survey. Suffice it to say that "gambling dependency" issues can no longer be ignored by social scientists, politicians, policy makers, and, for that matter, the unexpecting public (including unexpecting parents).
All forms of legalized gambling, including lotteries and bingos, have become governments' (all levels) legitimate answer to deficits, debts loads and an unwillingness to increase the tax base through new or expanded taxes. The creation of jobs, economic growth and consequently wealth are heralded as major benefits.
While some North American sociologists estimate that one compulsive gambler left untreated can cost the government anywhere from $ 16,900 to $ 65,000 (mid 90 figures), some Dutch authorities believe this figure to be as high as $ 350,000 per year.
The latter would include lost productivity including bankruptcy costs, legal and correctional services costs, social costs such as welfare payments, and related health costs (not including treatment costs of the gambling addict). In a study by the University of Massachusetts, professor Robert Goodman concluded that gambling venues sucked money away from existing businesses as diverse as car dealerships, sports arenas, movies theatres, and clothing stores.
In simple terms, money spent gambling is money not spent elsewhere.
Regardless of the economics of gambling, what about the morality question ?
Well respected for his personal view on many things, Dr. Billy Graham, in his book called "The Billy Graham Christian Workers' Handbook" stated it quite clearly: "... gambling of any kind amounts to theft by permission ... I realize that in most petty gambling, no harm is intended, but the principle is the same as in big gambling. The difference is only in the amount of money involved."
Jubilation's programs are all based on true Biblical foundations. Consequently, we tend to agree with Dr. Graham because his point of view is clearly found in the Holy Scriptures which we believe to be the inerrant Word of God. These Scriptures tell us that all things, including the money we earn, come from God and that there are only four Biblical ways we can profit materially: (a) through work; (b) through wise investments; (c) through an inheritance; and (d) through tithing.
Gambling is not on that list!!!
Even if you do not adhere to or believe in "Christian" principles, we would like you, the reader, to understand that at the root of any addictive behavior is the fact that we have allowed "other gods" to assume primacy in our lives. Gerald May, a noted psychiatrist, puts it this way: "Addiction is a deep-seated form of idolatry. The objects of our addictions become our false gods.
These are what we worship, what we attend to. Where we give our time and energy, instead of love.
The addiction, then, displaces and supplants God's love as the source and object of our deepest true desire. A "god" is that which guides and determines our behavior, so alcohol, drugs, gambling, materialism, or even people-pleasing, or any other addictive behavior can function as our "god." Jubilation Program believes that in order to be free from the power of these lesser destructive gods, we need to be reconciled to the one true God. And all of us, who are not addicted, need to play a crucial role in creating a wholesome, healthy community.
Ignoring the problem does not help....
Rev. John Fryters, Ph.D., ICADC Executive Director - Jubilation Program Internationally Certified Addictions Counsellor
