SUCCESS STORIES
In January 2003, a 53-year old woman who had been gambling compulsively for more than three years, called the Arizona Council's helpline. Throughout 2002 she had tried, unsuccessfully, to put an end to her gambling "career." Instead, her casino visits had continued -- even more intensely than before. She had begun to use her credit card for cash advances. She had dipped into her retirement savings. She had lied repeatedly and without remorse to her family, friends, neighbors, business partner and, most importantly, herself. She had become someone she barely recognized. Yet, on her own, she could not stop herself from putting ever increasing amounts of her money, time and self-respect into a video poker machine. In fear and horror she realized that, unless she sought help immediately, her self-destructive present would become an even more devastating future.
She spoke with Don Hulen, the Council's executive director at the time. His gruff, no nonsense advice was just what she needed -- cold water in the face of an addiction that had paralyzed her for years. Don told her about Gamblers Anonymous meetings and encouraged her to attend a women's group as soon as possible. She joined GA five days later and, one day at a time, has not gambled since. Today, she works for the Arizona Council: editing its website, managing the helpline that saved her life and advocating for sentence mitigation in court cases involving compulsive gamblers who have committed addiction-related crimes. Her success story has come full circle.
Please keep watching this space.
In the coming months, we will bring you additional "success
stories"
that illustrate how the Arizona
Council makes a difference
in the lives of compulsive gamblers and their families.
