  Don Hulen, Executive Director |
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As I review this article on May 19, 2008 I would be remiss if I did not give gratitude to Jon Jenkins, President and CEO of Casino Arizona at Salt River for his support prior to the opening of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community's casino and STILL provide the Majority of funding to this council.
The Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling Inc.is strictly a nonprofit organization, with Federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status and has a serious mission of education, awareness and training on issues of compulsive gambling. We are neither Anti nor Pro gambling. The council was formed in 1993 and held its organizational meeting on October 15, 1994.
Compulsive (Pathological) gamblers have a severe negative social and economic impact on our society. As more gambling becomes available, more individuals cross the line from recreational gambling into compulsive gambling.
Suicide, embezzlement, theft, family violence, business failures and bankruptcy are just some of the issues that burden our state and local social agencies due to the problem. Millions of dollars in revenues are wasted when the damage may have been avoided, not to mention the cost to the legal system. Those agencies that have direct contact with the public could receive some basic training in order to refer the gamblers (and their families) for education and proper treatment programs before more families are destroyed, and other societal and economic costs escalate. The devastation of this disease need not have the social and economic impact it now carries in our state.
The twelve step program of Gambler Anonymous cannot mention any outside treatment options to its membership. While it is doubtful in my mind that long term recovery is possible without being involved in G.A. I firmly believe that many compulsive gamblers will have a better opportunity of long term recovery if they are treated by a behavioral health professional who is trained and certified in the treatment of the disorder. The recovery rate for those who are provided formal treatment through a certified professional in Arizona is undetermined at present. However the little information we have been provided indicates encouraging success. Until our community involvement, there had been no certified professionals in the State of Arizona. Currently over 1%of the adult population are probable pathological gamblers. We have established the criteria for certification of treatment professionals and created a certification process. We conducted the first Arizona Training in October of 1995. We have trained over 400 health care professionals in the proper treatment of Pathological Gambling. It is our hope that the State of Arizona will incorporate this certification program with the other existing certification programs in the future.
Calls to our Help-line from compulsive gamblers have increased during the past 14 years. Of the thousands of callers, over 50% are from or about women with serious gambling related problems. over 95% of those women meet our criteria as "ESCAPE" gamblers. Of the male callers, about 40% also meet the" ESCAPE" criteria. We strongly urge individuals with gambling problems to contact our office for information and attend a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.. We believe it is important for women to speak with women about gambling problems when possible and recommend women attend a women only meeting. G.A. membership is increasing daily.
Cordially,
Don Hulen
Don Hulen, Executive Director