regardless of how long they have been gambling or how manyfinan- cial or legal problems their addiction has caused. The National Council on Problem Gambling, which offers a 24-hour problem gambling helpline, says one of the = first steps is to recognize the signs = * Gambling for more time and/or more moneythan intended. Gambling more to try to win back what you’ve lost. Recovery from gambling addiction has strengthened the marriage of Jane and Bob Skavinsky. of problem gambling. They include: Lying to loved ones about the amount of time or money spent gambling. Gambling can be considered problematic, and no longer recre- ational, when it causes a disruption in any major area of a per- son’slife. Finding Help It’s estimated that 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. population has a gambling problem. It can affect men or women of any age, race or religion, regardless of social status. If you think you or someone you know might have a problem, the National Council on Problem Gambling may be able to help. Its mission is to increase public awareness of problem and patho- logical gambling and to ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families. It also operates the 24-hour National Problem Gambling Helpline, a link to treat- ment, recovery groups and other resources for problem gamblers and their family members. A gambling helpline proved invaluable for Jane Skavinsky, a grandmother whose gambling problem began with simple bingo “My gambling addiction led to my losing focus on anything that didn’t have to do with bingo. Soon I was spending my whole paycheck on it,” Skavinsky explains. Eventually, Skavinsky began embezzling money from heroffice to help fund her habit. She was sentencedto a yearin jail for steal- ing a quarter of a million dollars. “It was only after months of mental anguish that I called the helpline. I did not realize that my gambling was the root of all my problems,” she explains. Through its referral to treatment andselfhelp groups, the helpline helped Skavinsky begin to recover. Today, she works to spread the word about problem gambling and helps others beat their addiction. “A problem gambler doesn’t need to wait to ‘hit bottom’ before asking for help,” says Keith Whyte, executive director, the National Council on Problem Gambling. “And because so many addicted gamblers are in denial and will never call, we offer our services to the nongamblers as well. When their problem is your games, spiraled out of control and problem, you can call the Helpline to learn whathelp is available.” To learn more or to find help, birthday in prison. visit www.ncpgambling.org. ended with her spending her 50th call toll free (800) 522-4700 or
