Friends & Families

FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? "Granddad, I’m so ashamed. I went to the casino with my friends and spent all of my tuition money, please, please don’t tell dad and help me out just this once." "Mom, I don’t know what we’re going to do. You know Sally has been spending a lot of time at the casino. Well, she sent out our bills, but the same day, she pulled all of the money in our checking account out of the ATM at the casino. Please, you have to help us." "Joan, we’ve been friends for 25 years. I don’t know what came over me, but I can’t even pay my utilities bills this month. Can you lend me the money just this once?"	AVOID BEING AN "ENABLER" FOR A LOVED ONE’S GAMBLING ADDICTION Friends and families of compulsive gamblers need to know how to recognize the problem so they don't fall victim of bailing out (financially rescuing) them. Do you you how to recognize a gambling problem and what to say to someone who asks for your financial help? Compulsive Gambling (Escape) is a symptom of other psychological trauma. The majority of those who suffer from comulsive gambling later in life do so to escape or self-medicate for other life's problem. Compulsive gambling is a progressive, diagnosable, treatable disease much like alcohol and drugs. It does not go away by itself. Someone with a gambling problem needs to become educated about the disease and get help. Read the following relevant articles, available on the ACCG web site (www.azccg.org) or by calling the ACCG office. If you still have doubts, call the Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling for advice and referral.	LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO Read all of the material in the TOP menu bar to help you make a decision about whether the person asking for help has a gambling problem. Especially note Types of Gamblers, and Male or Female Gamblers as it pertains to the person of concern. It is not unreasonable to ask the gambler to read the same material and formulate a plan for getting help. In addition to reading materials, you might want to attend a CoDa meeting. Many family members benefit from Codependents Anonymous. It helps the family member love the person with the problem without trying to solve the problem for them Meetings thrive throughout the nation, but especially in the Phoenix area since CoDa was founded in Phoenix. Meeting times and places are available on the Internet on the CoDa website or by calling 602-735-3060
We welcome your comments and questions: azccg@azccg.org The ACCG is a proud affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling

FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

"Granddad, I’m so ashamed. I went to the casino with my friends and spent all of my tuition money, please, please don’t tell dad and help me out just this once."

"Mom, I don’t know what we’re going to do. You know Sally has been spending a lot of time at the casino. Well, she sent out our bills, but the same day, she pulled all of the money in our checking account out of the ATM at the casino. Please, you have to help us."

"Joan, we’ve been friends for 25 years. I don’t know what came over me, but I can’t even pay my utilities bills this month. Can you lend me the money just this once?"

AVOID BEING AN "ENABLER" FOR A LOVED ONE’S GAMBLING ADDICTION

Friends and families of compulsive gamblers need to know how to recognize the problem so they don't fall victim of bailing out (financially rescuing) them. Do you you how to recognize a gambling problem and what to say to someone who asks for your financial help?

Compulsive Gambling (Escape) is a symptom of other psychological trauma. The majority of those who suffer from comulsive gambling later in life do so to escape or self-medicate for other life's problem.

Compulsive gambling is a progressive, diagnosable, treatable disease much like alcohol and drugs. It does not go away by itself. Someone with a gambling problem needs to become educated about the disease and get help. Read the following relevant articles, available on the ACCG web site (www.azccg.org) or by calling the ACCG office. If you still have doubts, call the Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling for advice and referral.

LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO

Read all of the material in the TOP menu bar to help you make a decision about whether the person asking for help has a gambling problem. Especially note Types of Gamblers, and Male or Female Gamblers as it pertains to the person of concern. It is not unreasonable to ask the gambler to read the same material and formulate a plan for getting help.

In addition to reading materials, you might want to attend a CoDa meeting. Many family members benefit from Codependents Anonymous. It helps the family member love the person with the problem without trying to solve the problem for them

Meetings thrive throughout the nation, but especially in the Phoenix area since CoDa was founded in Phoenix. Meeting times and places are available on the Internet on the CoDa website or by calling 602-735-3060

We welcome your comments and questions: azccg@azccg.org
The ACCG is a proud affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling