AN INFORMATION RESOURCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING SPRING2009•VOL.12,ISSUE1

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Counselor’s Corner

Executive Director’s Letter: Problem Gambling on the Hill

President’s Message: Facing Challenges and Changes

(President, continued on page 2)

15 Calendar of Events

As the national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families, oneof our most important tasks is to educate membersof Congress about problem gambling. We believe that the public health issue of problem gambling deserves a significant level of Federal attention and support commensurate with its national impact. It is frankly scandalous that there is not ONE CENT of dedicated Federal funding for the pre-

vention, treatment or research of this disorder. There certainly have been Federal grants and contracts in the past, mainly through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), but they were one-time or discretionary expenditures. Though many of these proj-

ects were important and contributed significantly to our understand-ing of problem gambling, their ad-hoc nature limits their effectivenessand does not provide a stable environment for researchers seeking long-term projects. The lack of sustained funding is even more strik-ing as the Federal government receives significant revenue from the withholding tax on gambling winnings—almost $5 billion a year.

The Federal Affairs Committee has been working with staff on three bills that will begin to address some of the most important deficits at the national level. The Inclusion of Gambling Services Act (IGS) specifically authorizes SAMHSA to address problem gambling issues. The Comprehensive Aware-ness of Problem Gambling Act (CAPGA) provides $71 million for prevention, treatment and research grants over five years, and the Dr. Nora Military and Veterans Gambling

8 Pioneer Tribute: Father Martin5Affiliate

Profile: Evergreen

In light of the ongoing economic challenges con-fronting our country, we are seeing a lot of activity in State Legislatures, proposing to legalize or liber-alize various forms of gambling in order to patch holes in government budgets. Though this might solve some of the fiscal problems States are experi-encing, it also might exacerbate the challenges that some people have in avoiding the pitfalls posed by excessive, obsessive, and problematic gambling.

Also, the stresses created by job loss, concerns over personal finances, and general angst about one’s economic future has probably created a few more problem gamblers in the past two years. All of this suggests that the need for services that address problem gambling, the services we all provide or support, will likely be on the rise.

To better understand the current thinking, cutting-edge strategies, andscientific findings regarding problem gambling in our current envi-ronment, we invite you to attend the 23rd National Conference on Problem Gambling, which will be held June 25–27, 2009 in India-napolis, Indiana. For almost a quarter of a century, these National Conferences have brought together leaders in prevention, education, treatment, responsible gaming, research, and recovery to present thelatest developments in their fields. Whether you are a seasoned profes-sional or a newcomer to problem gambling issues, you will find these sessions filled with high-quality content designed specifically for you.

Even though the Conference will only cover two days of formal pre-sentations this year, there will still be more than 50 presentations in up to five simultaneous breakout sessions during the program. Fur-

thermore, in order for attendees to be able to experience and gain value from every session offered, the NCPG has developed the Live Learning Center option which offers audio and PowerPoint access to ALL the presentations. This cost-effective web-based service allows us to slash our printing costs, helping us to reduce our environmental impact AND prices. We have also added one-day rates and have reduced registration for NCPG members across the board — 25% reductions from last year. And, as many of you already know, one of the real long-term values of this Conference is the opportunity to meet and interact with professionals and interested individuals from throughout the country (and elsewhere) who share your desire to understand the challenges posed by problem gambling. Indianapolis is an attractive, accessible, central and affordable destination. (Go Indians!) We look forward to seeing you in June for three days of exciting speakers, practical solutions, and serious networking with leaders from across the country.

In addition to the 25% discount on registration, all NCPG members are invited to attend the Annual Membership luncheon and meeting, to be held Thursday, June 25 from noon until 1 p.m. Incoming NCPG President Bruce Roberts and Executive Director Keith Whyte will provide remarks on the agenda and discuss the priorities for the coming year and the state of the Council. Please contact Melissa Martin to RSVP at melissam@ncpgambling.org.

The National Council will also be conducting its annual elections, with voting taking place up to the first day of the Indianapolis Con-ference. Since the new bylaws were adopted in 2008, one-third (plus

(The Hill, continued on page 2)

2 National Council on Problem Gambling

(President, continued from page 1)one – see below) of the 15 member Board of Directors positions are up for election, and the membership will select a President-Elect for the 2010–2011 term. Any member of NCPG can nominate anyone within their category of membership for the Board (Individual (1 position), Affiliate (3+1 positions), and Organizational (1 position)). To be eligible, a candidate has to have been a member of NCPG for three years and have served on a committee for at least one year. This is a strong signal for you to nominate and vote, but also to get more involved with the NCPG to get yourself eligible for elective office. Believe me, it is a lot more fun and interesting than it might at first sound. These are great people to work with, and you will gain great insights into where this field is going; such are just by-products of being a Board member.

The fourth Affiliate seat (the “plus-one”) comes available because of the retirement of Roger Svendsen. The Bylaws specify that in the event of a vacancy the Board will appoint an eligible individual from the Affiliate membership category to serve the remainder of the term. Roger is stepping down as Executive Director of the Northstar Prob-lem Gambling Alliance in Minnesota as of June 2009. His distin-guished career has included stints with the Minnesota Institute of Public Health and the Gambling Problems Resource Center. He received the Herman Goldman Foundation Award from the National Council on Problem Gambling in 1999. His shoes will be hard to fill.

On another note, this is my last (!) letter as President of the NCPG. The new 2008 Bylaws created a one-year presidency. My election in June 2008 was a surprise to everyone, especially myself, proving the adage that anyone can grow up to be President. However, in learning

the nuances of this job over the past ten months, one thing I realized is that it takes at least ten months to learn how to do this job well. Thus, I have recommended to the Board that a longer tenure for the position of President be adopted, and that recommendation is pres-ently being pursued. So, in the future, we can expect the Human Capital invested by the elected President in learning what to do to assist the National Council shape and fulfill its goals will not be wast-ed in early retirement, but rather in seasoned wiser leadership.

As for myself, I am happily stepping down in order for my President-Elect, Bruce Roberts, to take over the reins of control. I expect Bruce’s learning curve will be much faster than mine, but the reality is that a President should have at least twice as long a term to apply that ac-cumulated wisdom that only experience can bring. I am sure Bruce will agree one year from now.

The work of the National Council will go on, and, God willing, willcontinue to gain support and sustenance from the general public, fromthe 50 United States, from policy makers and concerned citizens throughout this great land, and from people like you. Problem gam-bling is extremely difficult to understand for many of us who see it from the outside, but there is no mystery to the carnage it can create.Relieving the pain, and helping those in need to a better path, is a win-win situation, if we can only continue to find the right strategies to bring it about. That is my lingering wish for the future of the NCPG.

Bill Eadington, Ph.D., President

Care Act directs the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to develop policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling prob-lems for those who serve our country.

IGS and CAPGA are scheduled to be introduced in the House of Rep-resentatives the fourth week in April, and we continue to work ex-tremely hard to build support for these bills. We will provide updated information via the website and directly to members and supporters via email. Most importantly, we will provide you with a legislative tool kit and all the materials you need to identify and contact your Congressional representative and urge them to support this common-sense approach to reducing the harm from problem gambling.

IGS and CAPGA represent a carefully crafted bi-partisan and bal-anced approach to combat problem gambling by providing Federal funds to fill gaps in the state service delivery systems while preserving the state’s responsibility and authority over gambling policy and regulation. While these bills are not a panacea they are a vital first step towards developing comprehensive policy and programs.

Advocacy plays an important role at the state level as well — in the current economic environment, legislatures are deeply cutting pro-grams and frantically searching for new revenue, including expanded gaming. All NCPG members need to be prepared to stand up and speak out to ensure that programs and services for problem gamblers and their families not only remain intact but even continue to grow.

An example of the pressures that problem gambling programs face isfound in Missouri, where a legislator proposed eliminating all funding

for the problem gambling program in the FY 2010 budget. Notably, even though the program was completely supported by a percentage of fees from riverboat casinos, thus not costing the state any general fund revenue, he felt that the money would be better spent on other health programs. While that was his individual judgment, it illus-trates the unique challenges we face—problem gambling still carries a lot of stigma and shame, and services to prevent and treat gambling problems will continue to be subject to efforts to deny the problem or delete the program. And to top it all off, the budget cut was suggested during National Problem Gambling Awareness Week! Fortunately, advocates in Missouri were able to rally and defeat the proposal.

Our best defense is to be able to generate both facts and passion. As those who work directly with problem gamblers and their families, we need to collect both the data that proves the severe impact of this disorder and the stories that demonstrate both the individual devasta-tion and, most importantly, the power of recovery. If there is any lesson in this budget situation, it is that the best and most effective advocacy is always at the grassroots level, and if we don’t cultivate this network it will wither, just when we, and problem gamblers and their families, need it the most. This is not to diminish the role of the state health agency or other groups, but it is to acknowledge that the Council and its Affiliates are the ONLY groups dedicated to advocacy for problem gamblers and their families.

Sincerely,

Keith S. Whyte, Executive Director

(The Hill, continued from page 1)

Toll-Free Helpline (800) 522-4700 3

National NewsNATIONALCOUNCILONPROBLEMGAMBLING

The National News is published by the National Council on Problem Gambling.

National Council on Problem Gambling 730 11th Street, NW, Suite 601 Washington, DC 20001Office 202-547-9204 • Fax 202-547-9206 ncpg@ncpgambling.org www.ncpgambling.org

Executive Director: Keith Whyte

Program Manager: Linda Abonyo

Administrative Assistant: Melissa Martin

NICHD Funds First Study on GamblingSubmitted by: Silvia Martins

Sponsored By: National Council on Problem Gambling • Hosted By: Indiana Council on Problem Gambling

For registration and more information, visit www.ncpgambling.org/conference

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Register Now!23rd National Conferenceon Problem Gambling Prevention, Treatment, Responsible Gaming,Research and RecoveryJUNE 25–27, 2009INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Hyatt Regency Indianapolis One South Capitol Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204

In March 2009, the National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Child and Hu-man Development (NIH-NICHD) funded Dr. Silvia Martins’ RO1 research grant en-titled “Predictors of Pathological gambling among African-American Young Adults.” Dr. Martins, of the Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, will collect and analyze gam-bling data on African-American adolescents and young adults, as part of the Baltimore Prevention Intervention Cohort 3 Longitudi-nal Study, which constitutes the first study to gather longitudinal data on gambling and problem gambling in a minority population in the U.S.

Specifically, this award builds upon Dr. Mar-tins’ prior research (funded by a Young Inves-tigator Incentive Grant from the National Center for Responsible Gaming in 2004–5) and will enable collection of gambling data when respondents are aged 22–23 years of age (the fifth wave of gambling data in this study). Dr. Martins and her team will use sophisticated and novel statistical approaches

such as Growth Mixture Model, Latent Transition Models, Generalized Estimating Equations to identify different trajectories of aggressive behaviors, hyperactivity and im-pulsivity at childhood and adolescence and test whether specific trajectories are associ-ated with increased risk of gambling and gambling problems in young adulthood, exploring whether neighborhood factors influence these trajectories; identify different late-adolescent and young adult trajectories of gambling behavior; assess bi-directional pathways between tobacco, alcohol, and drug involvement and psychiatric disorders with gambling and problem/pathological gam-bling; and describe the evolving natural history of gambling involvement and devel-opment of gambling disorders by following the time course of clinical features associated with gambling.

This study is timely in that the State of Maryland has just approved the legalization of slot machines in the state. This study has potential importance for prevention and policy development in the U.S. and interna-

tionally and can contribute to the develop-ment of prevention strategies that target a decrease in gambling-related problems as well as to the development of effective interven-tion and treatment for those who develop problems related to gambling.

4 National Council on Problem Gambling

Book Review: Upcoming Book on Electronic Gaming Devicesby Liz Karagianis, reprinted from MIT Spectrum, Fall 2008

Natasha Schull, who was raised in New York’s Greenwich Village, first encountered Las Vegas on the way to college, when her connecting flight was delayed there for a few hours.

“It was the most bizarre place I’d ever been. I wasn’t familiar with malls or theme parks or any of the elements that you see exem-plified in Las Vegas,” she says. “I was im-mediately fascinated.” Schull, who has studied gambling in Las Vegas for the past 15 years, is a cultural anthropologist and assistant professor in MIT’s Program on Science, Technology, and Society. She recently wrote Machine Zone: Technology and Compulsion in Las Vegas, a book based on her research on compulsive gamblers and the engineers who de-sign the slot machines they play. The book will be published next fall.

She also has created a documentary film, BUFFET: All You Can Eat Las Vegas, which aired recently on PBS. Her current work focuses on the social dimensions of neuroscience, specifically neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, and addiction pharmacology.

Schull says that the casino industry is building gambling machines that are increasingly effective at taking gamblers’ money. Slot ma-chines, which now earn more than 75 percent of casino revenue, are designed to make people play longer, faster, and more intensively. “The ideal customer is someone who sits at a machine until their money is gone,” she says. “In the industry it’s called “player extinc-tion,” and that’s the aim.

Becoming Dependent“I don’t think the gambling industry is an evil empire intentionally trying to addict people,” Schull says. “What they’re trying to do is maximize profit. But when you mix maximizing profit with the de-sign of a human-machine interface, and then you add people who are looking for escape, it’s a perfect storm of elements to produce a situa-tion of dependency.” Schull thinks it’s telling that we speak about problem gamblers but not problem machines, problem environ-ments, or problem business practices.

“Since addiction is a relationship between a person and an object or activity, it makes sense to take a close look at the gambling technology — not just the gamblers.”

As Schull explains, today’s machines are much different from ones of the past. Visual graphics are now calibrated so the gamblers’ eyes won’t get tired so quickly.Sound is manipulated as well, to reduce thestress of cacophony in cavernous spaces. To facilitate faster play, today’s machines have

buttons and touch-screens instead of handles and mechanical reels.

Instead of coins, they accept player credit cards. Instead of a few games per minute, it is now possible to play hundreds. Inside the machines, complicated algorithms control the odds.

“Every feature of the machines is geared to keep people playing until they’re broke.”

A State of FlowIn an effort to pull in revenue for state coffers, Massachusetts, along with several other states, including Kentucky, Illinois, and Maryland, recently had plans to license casinos, she says. “If you actually do the math, it’s not really a viable economic solution to the woes of state finance. What it offers, though, is a very tempting immediate injec-tion of cash.”

Schull herself is not a gambler, but says she can relate to gamblers when they talk about the repetitive, absorbed relationship they enter into with the technology. “I think many of us understand what it’s like to zone out on machines.

“The experience they describe is not unlike the sense of flow people experience when they dance, paint, or write. It’s sometimes a glorious thing to be swept away by something for hours. Sometimes you come out with a wonderful product. But the gamblers don’t have a product. They emerge from the zone totally depleted — physically, mentally,and financially. They feel drained and empty. In effect, these machinesexploit the very human desire to become absorbed.”

Note from the EditorWe would like to welcome any article that you may find interesting to place in our newsletter! To submit an article, please send it to melissam@ncpgambling.org.

We would like to say “Thank You” to all the Members listed below who have graciously taken the time out of their busy and hectic schedules to write an article for this news-

letter. If, by chance, we have forgotten to mention your name, we sincerely apologize in advance!

Dan AltmanJoanna FranklinDavid Frederick

Gina FrickeShaine Gaspard

Maureen GreeleyHale Humphrey-Jones

Silvia MartinsCheryl MossJanet Nelson

Melvin SlawikArnie WexlerShiela Wexler

Toll-Free Helpline (800) 522-4700 5

Featured ProgramsAffiliate ProfileAffiliate Profile

(Evergreen, continued on page 6)

Evergreen Council on Problem GamblingYear Founded: 1991

Mission: The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling is dedicated to increasing public awareness of prob-lem gambling, expanding the availability of services for problem gamblers and their families, and encouraging research and programs for prevention and education.

Vision: The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling is the leader in identifying needs and bringing together diverse resources and services for problem gamblers and their families in the Pacific North-west.

Core Values: The following core values are the fundamental values or ideals at the heart of the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling. They articulate the ideals the Council aspires to hold itself account-able for and offer guidance about how the Council carries out its mission.

RespectIntegrityCollaborationCredibilityExcellenceLeadership

Number of Current Staff: 3Number of Current Volunteers: 62Budget: Above $500,000Website Address: www.evergreencpg.org

ProgramsWhat are some of your major programs?Key areas of focus for the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling include:

• Treatment• Training• Awareness• Research• Advocacy

In order to successfully provide programs and services in these areas, we partner with treatment providers, state agencies such as the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and Washington’s Lottery, educators, Tribal health services and gaming representatives, universities, gaming in-dustry members, and experts in the fields of problem gambling treat-ment, prevention, research, and financial and legal issues.

Like many state councils, the Evergreen Council on Problem Gam-bling provides statewide confidential support and referral to services through our 24-hour Problem Gambling Helpline (800.547.6133) and public awareness, education, and prevention outreach across the state. A few highlights of our major programs include:

• Training and Certification: The Evergreen Council on Problem Gam-bling offers quarterly workforce devel-opment training for treatment provid-ers throughout the state. These 3-day

training opportunities include Basic and Advanced workshops that qualify for the 30 hours of problem gambling-specific training required for the National Certified Gambling Counselor (NCGC) credential, the Washington State Gambling Counselor Certifica-tion, and the Addiction Counselor Certification Board of Oregon, as well as qualified Continuing Education Units from such as-sociations as the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), the American Academy of Healthcare Providers in the Addictive Disorders (AAHCPAD), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the American Coun-seling Association (ACA). Our Annual Western Regional Confer-ence on Problem Gambling—Focus on the Future (see article in this issue), provides intensive training from experts in the field.

• Awareness/Outreach: Our Council’s awareness and outreach pro-grams are continuing to expand to reach audiences throughout the state. In January and February alone, our staff provided outreach presentations across the state from Bellingham in the North to Lewis County in the South, and from Spokane in the East and all along the Western corridor – reaching out to hundreds of people of all ages—students, educators, legislators, and parents, at high schools, civic and service organizations, detention centers, church-es, at our Capitol, and more.

What has been your most successful/popular program? Why?Our training programs have shown much success in developing a network of treatment providers who have successfully completed the requirements for state certification – several of whom have gone on to pursue a National Certified Gambling Counselor (NCGC) creden-tial. The Council continues to draw counselors from all parts of Washington and from other states to attend our trainings and is able to bring in some of the most experienced and distinguished experts in the field as presenters. Our trainings have a reputation of excellence. So much so that, this year, we were asked to partner on our state’s first Tribal Problem Gambling Awareness Conference. Currently, repre-sentatives from more than 15 Tribal Nations in Washington and from the Washington Indian Gaming Association have joined in the plan-ning efforts for this exciting event to be held in early October.

What is the program you’d most like to develop in the future?There are many areas that need development or enhancement to ensure the most effective programs and services are offered to assist problem gamblers, their families, their employers, and their commu-nities. We are fortunate in Washington to have some state funding for problem gambling treatment, with the program administered through the state’s Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. In these

6 National Council on Problem Gambling

uncertain economic times, the gambling revenues that support this important program are down. It is crucial for our Council to find ways to support treatment in Washington. We are fortunate to have received some critical funding from several Tribal Nations in Wash-ington to support treatment, training, awareness, and prevention efforts, and we are moving forward to expand programs and services through this funding.

What has been the greatest obstacle to helping problem gamblers in your state?While the need for additional funding to support problem gambling programs and services is always with us, the need for increased aware-ness of problem gambling as a public health issue and an addiction is tantamount to funding in garnering the support of legislators, educa-tors, public health leaders, and communities as a whole. We live and work in a beautiful and diverse geographic location with key metro-politan areas such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane, as well as many rural areas where geographic gaps in services remain an obstacle. Meeting the needs of diverse populations, where cultural and lan-guage issues make it crucial for us to learn more and respect a variety of needs, is a challenge we recognize and will continue to strive to meet.

What are some of your projects that you would like to share with other Affiliates?During our current Legislative Session, our Council was able to host the first Problem Gambling Awareness Day at our Capitol. With the support of Washington’s Lieutenant Governor, Brad Owen, who hosted two Legislative Forums at they Capitol, we were able to pres-ent key information on Therapeutic Justice to legislators, state agency representatives, treatment providers, and community members. These forums included presentations by Drug Court and Tribal Court judges about the benefits of therapeutic justice, and a special video presentation by Judge Mark G. Farrell of Amherst’s Problem Gam-bling Court. In addition, we were able to have five teams of volun-teers, including our own Board members, treatment providers, mem-bers of the recovering community, gaming industry representatives, and Tribal representatives meet face-to-face with more than 25 legisla-tors and their staff during the day to discuss problem gambling issues. These meetings were successful in identifying a Key Sponsor and additional legislative sponsors to draft a bill for next session to recom-mend a pilot problem gambling court in Washington State.

What does your Council get out of your membership in NCPG?The National Council on Problem Gambling’s work to represent issues and increase awareness of the needs for support, programs, and services at the national level and, in particular, with federal policy makers is crucial. Being an affiliate of NCPG brings added stature and clout when we represent our state programs and services and seek support from legislators, industry members, state agency representa-tives, and the general public. The abilities to network, to learn from colleagues across the country, and to develop partnerships is great. We are proud that the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling is a part-ner in our 3rd Annual Western Regional Conference on Problem Gambling Awareness this year. Being an affiliate of NCPG also offers many opportunities for leadership development among our staff and volunteers. We have representatives of our Council on the NCPG Board and on several Committees, and look forward to continuing to

participate with our colleagues across the country. Our membership has grown this past year by virtue of being able to offer ECPG mem-bers a joint membership with NCPG at a reduced rate—it’s a great value. And, of course, NCPG serves as a valuable resource for up-to-date research and print materials that we can share as a service in Washington.

(Evergreen, continued from page 5)

3rd Annual Western Regional Conferenceon Problem Gambling: Focus on the FutureMay 1–2, 2009 • Vancouver, Washington

Experts from the United States and Canada will provide the latest information and lead discussion at the 2009 Western Regional ConferenceonProblemGamblingMay1–2attheHiltonHotelinVancouver,Washington.Thisyear’sFocus on the Future conference is hosted by the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling with con-ferencepartnertheOregonCouncilonProblemGambling.

KeynotespeakersonFridayandSaturdayincludeJimWuelfing,prevention director for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling,andDr.WilliamEadington,directoroftheInstitutefortheStudyofGamblingandCommercialGaming.Eadington’stimelytopicis“DoesaDownturnintheEconomyTranslatetoanIncreasein Gambling and Problem Gambling?” For a full list of presenters andpanels,visitourWebsiteatwww.evergreencpg.org.

ThethemeofWuelfing’spreventionkeynotefortheconference reflects his belief that every individual involved in the gaming indus-try and the treatment of problem gamblers needs to embrace and supporttheentirecontinuumofcare:prevention,intervention,treat-ment,andrecovery.Hesummeduphispresentationwiththisquotefromanunknownsource,“Noprogresshaseverbeenmadeagainstanyepidemicbytreatingonlythecasualties.Wesimplyreplacethemwithmorecasualties.”

Thisyear’sconferencefeaturesfourtracks:clinical/research;culture/community;prevention/outreach;andindustry/legal, as well as a full-day pre-conference Basic Training workshop on April30.Pre-conferenceandconferenceworkshopsofferhour-for-hourContinuingEducationUnits(CEUs)andqualifytowardthegambling-specificeducationrequiredfortheNationalCertifiedGambling Counselor (NCGC) credential and for CEUs from many otheraddictioncounselor,socialworker,andcounselingaccreditingassociations,including:

• NationalAssociationofAlcoholandDrugAbuseCounselors(NAADAC)

• AmericanAcademyofHealthcareProvidersintheAddictiveDisorders(AAHCPAD)

• NationalAssociationofSocialWorkers(NASW)• AmericanAcademyofFamilyPhysicians(AAFP)• AmericanCounselingAssociation(ACA)• AmericanProbationandParoleAssociation(APPA)• WashingtonStateProblemGamblingCertification• AddictionCounselorCertificationBoardofOregon(ACCBO)• WashingtonMentalHealthCounselorsAssociation(WMHCA)• WashingtonStatePsychologicalAssociation(WSPA)

For more information on the conference and pre-conference basictrainingandregistrationdetails,visitourconferenceWebsiteathttp://focusonthefuture.evergreencpg.orgorcall360.352.6133.

Toll-Free Helpline (800) 522-4700 7

Division on Addictions Launches Transparency ProjectThe Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School

This is the first ever public data repository for privately-funded datasets, such as industry-funded data, specifically related to addictive behavior (e.g., alcohol and other drugs, intemperate gambling, exces-sive shopping, etc.). The Division on Addictions created this reposi-tory to promote transparency for privately-funded science and better access to scientific information.

All Transparency Project datasets have been de- identified according to HIPAA regulations. Trans-parency Project datasets must be IRB approved for posting in the Transparency Project database repository.

The Transparency Project makes available datasets collected by multidisciplinary addiction researchers working throughout the world. The Division on Addictions encourages the external contri-bution of addiction-related research data for this project, and will continue to add its own datasets to the repository.

Check back often for new additions to the data repository or subscribe to our mailing list for updates at www.thetransparencyproject.org.

MissionThe Transparency Project aims to collect and archive high quality addiction-related privately-funded data from around the world. The purpose of this project is to make data available to scientists so that they can advance the available empirical evidence and knowledge base about addiction.

RationaleScientific information often is locked away in scientific journals, which tend to have limited accessibility. The Division on Addictions has a long history of making science publicly available beyond profes-sional journals and other similar publications. For instance, the Divi-sion publication, The BASIS (www.basisonline.org), provides each week, free summaries of scientific articles related to multiple expres-sions of addiction. We seek to advance our efforts by taking one step further and providing, via the Transparency Project, easy access to the source of many of those scientific articles. We believe that this effort is both publicly responsible and ethically desirable. Industry-funded scientific studies have often come under scrutiny by researchers, advocates, the media, and the public. The unfortunate history of

tampering with science by scientific sponsors created this atmosphere of distrust. We seek to improve this complex situation by increasing accessibility to privately-funded data. It is our hope that this increased access will provide the impetus for the development of public-private research partnerships and simultaneously advance what we know about addictive behavior.

Contemporary events and social trends correctly direct researchers to make more scientific informa-tion publicly available to more people. For example, in the United States, researchers must make publicly-funded scientific datasets freely available to oth-ers. This requirement emerged from two primary beliefs: (1) publicly-funded scientific information should be pub-licly available, and (2) greater access to scientific informa-tion will speed the process of improving the public’s health.

According to some estimates, private sources sponsor twice the research sponsored

by public sources. This disparity suggests a need to facilitate greater access to privately-funded databases. In addition to advancing sci-ence, providing a venue through which researchers can make public their private data should help dispel concerns that many people feel about privately-funded science. For example, scientific misconduct by some private funders, such as the tobacco industry, has created an atmosphere of skepticism and mistrust related to private funding sources in general. This atmosphere of concern is not unwarranted, as many have now documented. However, the misdeeds of some should not preclude private sources from contributing to the advancement of science. On the contrary, because some private sources provide both opportunity and exposure to potential objects of addiction, it is our belief that such private sources should continue to provide funding for high quality programs of scientific investigation.

Finally, president Obama has called for the development of more public-private partnerships for research and elsewhere. We agree that these partnerships hold the potential to advance science and public health. We suggest that, as such partnerships emerge and evolve, transparency should be the norm for information, and not the excep-tion. With that spirit, we sincerely hope that you will utilize the Transparency Project to promote these ideals and join with us to alleviate the burdens caused by addictive behaviors.

8 National Council on Problem Gambling

Pioneer TributePioneer Tribute

A great loss to our treatment and recovering communitySubmitted by: Joanna Franklin

Father Joseph C. Martin, S.S. passed away on Monday morning, March 9, 2009 at the age of 84. Though I cannot claim to be a close friend, we did know and work together on several occasions, as we introduced problem gambling and G.A. materials to Father Martin’s Ashley in 1984.

I was introduced to Father Martin by his good friend Mae Abraham and Corky Devlin when we presented to staff and clients on problem gambling among the recovering community. I recall clearly the impact of our talk, and the sharing of those in recovery from compulsive gambling, when Father Martin declared he was going to ban card playing from Ashley. I was called to Ashley on one occasion to assist with what we call today a “co-occurring” case. This older adult in rehab for the ninth time – his second time through Ashley- needed help with his gam-bling problem. Finally someone had recog-nized that this difficult client had more than one problem. Besides his alcoholism he was a pathological gambler. We offered assistance and the talented staff at Ashley took it from there making sure he got to G.A. materials and meetings. Their work brought an end to his relapses and years later when he passed on, he was both sober and abstinent.

Born in Baltimore on October 12, 1924 Father Martin attended grammar school at St. Aquinas, then Loyola High, and then on to Loyola College graduating in 1944. He entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and was ordained on May 22, 1948 for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. I do take unearned pride in having him as one of our “home-town” success stories. In 1951 Father Martin became a Sulpician and taught at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland then a Sulpician Seminary.

Father Martin’s most famous journey began on June 15, 1958 when he entered Guest House in Michigan, a treatment program for clergy. There he began his walk on the road to recovery and brought lessons learned to

millions of people from around the world.

Father Martin was a world-class educator and a remarkable influence on me as a new train-er in the gambling treatment field. He was very generous with his time and always had humor as a part of how he shared and how he taught. His smile lit the room when he entered and his kind words could bring fellowship to those who felt the most isolated by their addiction.

The list of his accomplishments are too many to list here. Some of them include: The production of “Chalk Talk on Alcohol” for the Navy in February of 1972. Then came “No Laughing Matter” both considered classics today. Recipient of the Andrew White medal 1986 from Loyola College, Baltimore given to those who have contrib-uted to the welfare of the citizens of Mary-land. In 1988 he received the Rutgers Sum-mer School of Addiction Studies Distinguished service Award. He participated in the International Conference on Drug and Alcohol sponsored by the Vatican in 1991. He received the Norman Vincent Peele Award in 1992.

Perhaps what many now know Father Martin for was his opening of Ashley in 1983 with his long time friends Mae and Tommy Abra-ham. This beautiful facility sits on the grounds of what was once a Governors grand family estate overlooking the water. I have driven many a client, and a few colleagues, to Ashley to begin a recovery journey or return to one. As one of the first programs to offer a relapse track, Ashley was a very focused program with a well earned reputation. I recall with great clarity words from a little old lady deep in the shame of her alcoholism as she entered Ashley and whispered that she felt her dignity was returning. There is nei-ther greater compliment nor tribute to such a giving, honest and dedicated man than to say he has touched millions who seek recovery and all of us would do well to try and follow his example of giving, dignity, knowledge and faith in recovery.

He is survived by a brother, many nieces and nephews his beloved friends at Ashley and millions of lives he has touched for the better.

Passing of Father MartinSubmitted by: Janet Nelson

I have just learned of the passing of Father Joseph Martin, S.S. Father Martin was a pioneer in the addiction field and almost all of us have seen his “Chalk Talk” films or lectures at some point during our experience with recovery. Father Martin passed away peacefully on the morning of March 9, 2009.

Father Martin has been speaking about addiction and recovery since the 1960’s when he himself became sober. He quickly earned a reputation for being a captivating and educational speaker. In 1983, he and co-founder Mae Abraham opened Father Martin’s Ashley, considered to be one of the best treatment programs in the country to this day. Father Martin’s awards include the Andrew White Medal from Loyola College, Baltimore, for his contributions to the general welfare of the citizenry of Maryland; Rutgers University’s Summer School of Alcohol Studies’ Distinguished Service Award (1988); and the Norman Vincent Peale Award (1992).

Toll-Free Helpline (800) 522-4700 9

Is gambling the real problem of the collapse of the banking and investment industry?

Submitted by: Arnie Wexler

Greed is the human selfishness and gambling is the vehicle to obtain the riches (so we think) to fulfill one’s greed. How did we arrive at this lowest point in our economy since the 1930’s?• Pushing individual products into numerous borrowing tools to

effect huge fee income and passing risk to third parties with no one being concerned with the inevitable day of reckoning.

• Poor or neglectful oversight by industry and government.• Allowing greed-driven euphoria to encourage individuals to bet on

the come that a 100–125 percent loan to value on their primary residence will be mitigated by nonstop increases in real estate value.

• Encouraging increases in credit card debt to have today and pay for in tomorrow dollars at the interest rate as high as 20 percent or more.

• Credit agencies lack of analysis and true valuations of assets and liabilities moved to back burner so fat fees could be earned.

• Government’s usual inept involvement, forgetting the debacle of the early 1980’s with the savings and loans associations.

• Corporate salaries and bonuses not realistic with performance and accountability displaced.

• Unbridled expansion of state lotteries, to fund education, senior citizen programs and other state projects that caused the poor to be poorer and millions to become addicted.

• The systemic problem of gambling effected Wall Street, banking, government and the public betting on the come. By placing bets in the mortgage area, credit card business, hedge funds, products that will recover if mistakes or poor judgment without a “what-if” analysis brings disaster.

All we hear today are comments about various companies “bets,”

including Wall Street, Main Street, all with negative results. Let’s alsolook at day traders who are betting on the next buy or sale of a stock tomake themselves rich; but in the end, they are just like poker players, betting on the next turn of the card. Customers are allowed to buy stocks with money that they don't necessarily have, by buying on “margin.”

We now are a nation of gamblers with 48 states promoting and heavilyadvertising gambling in order to get their piece of the action. Thestates are lapping up money from lotteries, scratch offs and casinos andusing peoples losses to augment normal taxes. States project how muchincome they will receive from gambling revenue, in their budgets,and when that projection falls short; where will the money come from?

How about the fact that the federal government makes billions of dollars on taxing the winnings of the gambler? Billions and billions are bet each year legally and illegally.

Every time one purchases a stock in a company they are placing a bet; who knows what the future price will be when you need to sell? Is the stock market the biggest roulette wheel in America?

When are we going to realize that the underlying problem of the current economic crisis is greed? Greed that fueled the gambling to achieve the dream of businesses and individuals accumulating wealth without the thought of accountability and responsibility?

I run a help line for compulsive gamblers (888 LAST BET) and in the last few months many of the calls are from gamblers who have been gambling in the financial markets. Some of them are stock brokers/executives, working in the financial field.

'Near-Wins' Boost Desire to Keep GamblingBrain sees these as special events, even though result is technically a loss

Posted February 11, 2009

Wed., Feb. 11 (HealthDay News) – A near-win in gambling stimulatesa large portion of the win-related circuitry in the brain and boosts a person’s motivation to gamble, according to British researchers.

They said their findings may also help explain why gambling attracts so many people and why some develop a gambling problem.

“We devised a series of experiments to elicit near-miss and control phenomena in the laboratory and used functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI] to explore the brain mechanisms underlying these cognitive distortions,” senior study author Dr. Luke Clark, of the Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cambridge, said in a journal news release.

The researchers found that near-wins were associated with significant activation of the ventral striatum and anterior insula, areas that were also activated by wins. Clark and colleagues also identified a signifi-cant association between insula activity and problem gambling. Previ-ous research has linked the insula with addictive behaviors.

Even though participants said near-wins were more unpleasant than outright losses, near-wins did increase their desire to keep gambling. But this was only true when the participant had control over arrang-ing the gamble.

“Gamblers often interpret near-misses as special events, which en-courage them to continue to gamble. Our findings show that the brain responds to near-misses as if a win has been delivered, even though the result is technically a loss,” Clark said.

“By linking psychological and neurobiological accounts of gambling, these data inform our understanding of gambling behavior within society, and by extrapolation, the capacity of gambling to become addictive and pathological,” Clark concluded.

The study was published in the Feb. 12 issue of Neuron.

Dr. Clark will be presenting on this issue at the 23rd National Conference on Problem Gambling, June 25–27, 2009 in Indianapolis, IN. Make plans to attend and hear this and other great presentations!!

10 National Council on Problem Gambling

Little known facts are that the U.S Virgin Islands has been a Territory of the United States since 1917, and its Lottery has been in existence since 1938, making it the oldest continuous lottery game in the United States. Its history was as a traditional lottery game, with num-bered tickets sold by local dealers and winning tickets drawn every two weeks.

Similar to many jurisdictions, the revenues raised by the Virgin IslandsLottery support a number of public programs such as an Educational Initiative Fund, a Disabled Persons Fund, Small Business Develop-ment and Loan Fund, Office of Veterans Affairs, etc. Originally ticket sales were brisk, but by the 1990’s the Virgin Islands Lottery was losing money, partly as a result of illegal gambling machines and illegal sales of foreign lottery tickets. Studies showed 40 to 50 million dollars was leaving the territory annually to illegal gambling.

To reverse this trend, the V.I. Government issued a Request for Pro-posals for Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) with the stated purposes of returning the V.I. Lottery to profitability by eliminating illegal gam-bling and by offering a lottery product that would appeal to tourists. Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands won the competitive bid, and in July of 2003, the video lottery program in the U.S. Virgin Islands began.

Southland Gaming’s President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Huckabee III moved quickly to establish VLTs as an important part of the Lottery and to return it to profitability. Illegal gambling ma-chines and lottery tickets were quickly replaced by more fun and trustworthy VLTs offered through the video lottery program. Equally as impressive, the combination of low wagers and high payback per-centage to the player plus a very mature gaming market have resulted in minimal problem gambling. Southland Gaming executives take problem gambling very seriously and have implemented a program to recognize and minimize problem gambling tendencies. The com-pany’s staff members and those employed by video lottery retailers receive training to identify any problems. Data from problem gam-bling hotlines are constantly monitored by Southland and confirm their belief that very few problems exist.

Very quickly, the Virgin Islands Lottery was returned to profitability and began, once again to fund the vital Government Programs it was intended to support. The contract between Southland Gaming and the V.I. Lottery is now in its sixth year and the VLTs have contributed well in excess of $38,000,000 directly to the Virgin Islands Govern-ment, with an overall positive impact to the economy of over $65,000,000. That is very significant for population as small as the USVI and indicates high tourist interest as well.

During the current period of worldwide economic uncertainty, the revenues produced by the VLT’s are one source of income that the Virgin Islands Government can depend upon. Because of the signifi-cant investment Southland has made in sophisticated central com-puter systems that monitor every aspect of the video lottery program for the Government, the Lottery gets a sizeable check every week from Southland that is 100 percent accurate.

Mr. Huckabee is understandably proud of the impact his operations have had on the Territory, especially the funding that benefits Virgin

Benefits of Video Lottery Terminals on Virgin Islands GovernmentSubmitted by: Shaine Gaspard, Southland Gaming

Islands students. Southland Gaming’s charitable contributions have also enhanced education-related efforts. Under Mr. Huckabee’s direc-tion, the Company has established relationships with the University of the Virgin Islands for scholarships, with the V. I. Department of Education to provide morale-boosting luncheons for teachers and support staff at various public schools, and with the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce as the sponsor of its annual Student Achievement Award and $1,000 scholarship program. Southland has sponsored Toys For Tots and local cricket tournaments, just to name a few of its other community outreach programs.

As Mr. Huckabee explains, “Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands is a component of the Virgin Islands community and its success affects every one of us. We are committed to supporting the Territory in its efforts to provide quality education for all students. After all, these students will be our next generation of employees. We know that Virgin Islands’ children are talented and resourceful, and South-land Gaming will do its best to demonstrate this belief through pro-grams that are vital and available to all,” he concluded.

The Perfect StormBy S. Hale Humphrey-Jones, Ph.D. and Melvin Slawik, MSW

The State of Delaware is teetering on the verge of passing legislation which will permit sports betting in racinos and other venues, such as sports bars and free standing casinos. Is this increased revenue for state coffers a boon or is it potential disaster?

Among the varied articles outlining the pros and cons of such legisla-tion, a local gambling expert has been quoted as saying that only those with an addictive predisposition are at risk for an increase in gambling problems. This widely accepted belief is that there is a small percentage (2–3 percent) of the population that is at risk to develop pathological gambling. This small percentage, it is believed, has an addictive personality.

Such a concept may be contributing to the illusion of innocence wheregambling is concerned. This illusion tells us that it is safe to gamble if you have never had a problem with alcohol, drugs, spending, etc. If we have never committed a crime, we are not at risk for crossing the line into gambling related illegal activities. We are safe! Only those people (the others) will become pathological gamblers.

The illusion of innocence is perpetrated by the atmosphere in the casinos. We are surrounded by people—they can’t all have a problem. It is not illegal, not fattening, and does not involve a substance—therefore, not addictive.

Gambling addiction is often compared to other addictions. While there are significant similarities, there are also major differences. A genetic predisposition is present in alcoholism. Mere exposure to alcohol without this predisposition is not likely to result in alcohol-ism. However, with gambling there is a perfect storm that can trigger an addiction without such a predisposition.

(Storm, continued on page 11)

Toll-Free Helpline (800) 522-4700 11

April 10, 2009Position Information: Consultant OpportunitySalary Range (Monthly): $4,175 to$5,000Closing Date: May20,2009at5pmTo Apply:SubmitCoverLetterandCV/Resumeto: Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling Attn:Treatment/ResearchDirectorSearch 1929FourthAvenueEast,Olympia,WA98506Application materials must be RECEIVED by 5 p.m. on the closing date.

GENERAL PURPOSE: TheTreatment&ResearchProgramDirectorisresponsiblefordeveloping,organizing,managing,administering,and evaluating Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling efforts to support treatment services for problem and pathological gamblers and,asclinicallyappropriate,membersoftheirfamiliesaffectedbythisaddiction.Thispositionoverseesanyandallcontractsforservicesprovidedundertheprogram,andshalltrackprogramparticipationandclientoutcomesandevaluatetheeffectivenessoftheprogram.Inaddition,thispositionwilloverseeallresearchprogramsandpropos-alsforresearchstudiesorprojectsonbehalfoftheCouncil.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The following duties ARENOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed,only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibili-ties. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.•Theprogramdirectorisresponsibleforthecontractualrelationships

between the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling and treatment providersandagenciesthroughoutthestateofWashington.

•Responsibilitiesincludethedevelopmentandmaintenanceofahigh-qualitytreatmentprogram,including:

– Programdevelopment – Regulatorycompliance – Utilizationmanagement(census)/volumegrowth – Budgetmanagement•WorkwithExecutiveDirectorandTrainingProgramAssistantto

evaluate and enhance workforce development and training opportu-nities for certified treatment professionals and those seeking problem gamblingcounselorcertification.

•Overseeacquisitionanddistributionoftreatmentandpreventionmaterials.

•Assistwithoutreachtocurrentlycertifiedalcoholanddrugtreat-ment/mentalhealthprovidersandagencies.

•Assurethatassessmentcriteriameetallstandardsfordiagnosticcri-teriaforproblem/pathologicalgamblingasdefinedbyestablishedscreeninginstrumentsandbytheDSM-IV-R(DiagnosticandStatisti-calManual–IV-Revised).

•Establishintake/referralprotocols;treatmentmodelrequirements.•Developinstrumentsforassessingandmeasuringprogrameffective-

nessandclientoutcomes.•WorkwithExecutiveDirectortodevelopoutreachtoclients,agen-

cies,organizations,thepublicregardingtheavailabilityoftreatmentunderthisprogram.

•Reviewallpotentialresearchprograms/projectsbeforeinitiationofany study in partnership with the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling,includingprotocoldevelopmentorclinicaldevelopmentplanprocess,andappropriateresearch/studydesigns,datacollec-tiontechniques,resourceallocation/planning,andpreparationofIRBapplications.

•PerformotherrelateddutiesasrequiredorassignedbytheDirector.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Education and Experience: Masters degree or doctorate in social work,psychology,counseling,marriageandfamilyplanning,orre-latedfieldpreferred.

Backgroundinhealthcareadministration.Required Licenses or Certifications:•MustpossessavalidWashingtonDriver’sLicense.•Licensedand/orcertifiedinsomeclinicalcapacitypreferred.Required Knowledge and Skills:•Exceptionalorganizationalskillswithdemonstratedabilitytoplan

andprioritizediverseanddetailedtasksandhandlemultipleassign-mentsinafast-pacedenvironmentwithtightdeadlines.

•Expertisewithprinciplesofresearchmethodology•Processesfordevelopingandadministeringbudgets.•Flexibilityandstronginterpersonalskillstoworkeffectivelywithand

meettheneedsofdiversegroups.•Strongwriting,editing,andcommunicationskills,includingability

towritetechnicallyforreports,manuscripts,andgrantsubmissions,andnon-technicallyforpresentationtonon-scientificaudiences.

•Athoroughunderstandingoftheethical,legal,andregulatoryis-suesandrecognizedbest-practicestandardsrelevanttoresearchanddataproduction.

•ProficiencywithMicrosoftOfficeapplications,includingOutlook,Word,PowerPoint,andExcel.

•Knowledgeofandinterestinmentalhealthandpublichealthissues.•Experienceinprogramdesignandevaluationwithproblemgam-

blingorotheraddictions.Physical Demands/Work Environment:•Sometravelisrequired.•Subjecttositting,standing,walking,bending,reaching,andlifting

ofobjectsupto50pounds.

Position Announcement – Treatment & Research Program Director

Someone enters a casino for the first time. They have had a bad day, week, or year. They are overburdened, overstressed, and over-worked. As they enter the casino, they are removed from contact with the outside world. There are no windows, no clocks, and no reminders of their stressful life. There are bright lights, pleasant sounds, much comfort and social encouragement. Be happy!

The individual wins, giving them positive reinforcement. They forget their problems, providing negative reinforcement. Negative

reinforcement is the removal of an unpleas-ant stimuli; e.g. the removal of their worries. The perfect storm.

Those experiencing the perfect storm quickly learn that when stressed, gambling will allevi-ate their angst. When they inevitably lose, they begin to chase that first win and that lost money, leading to the downhill slide.

They get into financial distress. They are embarrassed by their condition. They begin to cross the line into illegal activities in order

to cover up their shame. It is not a crime, they convince themselves, but a temporary solution.

The illusion of innocence has created a sense of safety that does not exist. When we use drugs, we know that it is illegal. When we drink alcohol, we know we are at risk for inebriation. When we gamble we need to beware of the perfect storm.

(Storm, continued from page 10)

12 National Council on Problem Gambling

TheCounselor’sCornerThe Counselor’s Corner

Rena Nora M.D., in her own wordsSubmitted by Cheryl Moss

RENA NORA M.D. Dr. Rena Magno Nora, 68, passed away Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008. She was born March 9, 1940, in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines. She was a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. She was also the medical director of the Intensive Outpatient Program for Prob-

lem Gamblers at the Veterans Affairs Southern Nevada Healthcare System. She served as commissioner of the Governor's Commission on Mental Health and Developmental Services as well as the Board of Examiners for the Nevada State Board for Alcohol, Drug and Gam-bling Counselors. Dr. Nora served as chief of psychiatry for almost 30 years both at the New Jersey and Las Vegas VA Medical Centers. She was also a retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Dr. Nora was a graduate of the La Consolacion College High School Class of 1956. She obtained her degree in medicine from the Univer-sity of Santo Tomas and took up her psychiatry residency at the Ber-gen Pines County Hospital in New Jersey and the Psychiatric Insti-tute of Columbia University in New York. She has written many books and articles as well as conducted research on topics such as suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder, problem gambling and tran-scultural psychiatry. Dr. Nora was very active in community affairs. She has been president of many Filipino-American organizations and professional associations both in national and state levels in the Unit-ed States. She was given many awards for outstanding achievements in professional and community endeavors. Dr. Nora was the recipient of the Herman Goldman Award for Lifetime Achievement, the high-est award conferred by the National Council on Problem Gambling

for her pioneering work in the treatment of problem gamblers and their families. Dr. Nora was married to Demetrio T. Nora M.D., a radiologist, who preceded her in death. They have three children, Yvette Nora (Graeme) Whitley, who is a director at El Sevier in New York City, District Court Judge Cheryl Moss (James T.) Lowery, and Dean T. (Jessica Ann Ph.D) Nora M.D., oncology surgeon with Kaiser Permanente in California. She had five grandsons who were truly the joy of her and her husband's lives, Owen, Gordon and Stuart Whitley, and Drew T. and Beckham R. Nora. She is also sur-vived by her sister, Justita M. (Monet C.) Montelibano; niece, Lorelei (Ramon D.D.S.) Ordonez; nephews, Don (Barney) Montelibano, Earl (Arturo Ballester) Montelibano, Warren (Ivy) Montelibano and Ryan (Mariam) Montelibano; niece, Araceli (Matt) Garrido; grand-niece, Meghan Montelibano; grandnephew, Miles Montelibano; grandniece, Justine Montelibano; grandnephew, Riley Montelibano; and grandniece, Dylan Montelibano. Visitation will be noon–7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, with Vigil service following, both at Palm Mortu-ary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. Service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive. Interment following at Palm Memorial Park, 1325 N. Main Street. Dr. Nora is well known for her achievements in blend-ing her roles as mother, teacher, researcher, executive administrator, community leader and supporter of the arts. Her life achievements reflect not only outstanding professional contributions, but her pas-sion to serve others based on her belief in the beauty and dignity of the human spirit.

Beliefs About GamblingSubmitted by: David Frederick

In a recent local (Huntington, West Virginia) newspaper article (Feb-ruary 8, 2009), Kelli Sabonya, a member of the State’s House of Delegates, discussed the impact of gambling on West Virginia State finances. In many states in the United States of America, the issue of state-sanctioned gambling has been endlessly discussed over the years, both pro and con. But what about the effects on the individual gam-blers and their families? Here again, many states have acknowledged the adverse effect on the people who gamble and their significant others, and so they provide public money to deal with the negative consequences of gambling. In West Virginia, the Lottery allocates $1.5 million for this purpose

Gambling among friends on a Saturday night is generally a recre-ational activity without dire consequences, because the stakes are generally not excessive, and no money leaves the room. It is simply redistributed among the friends gathered around the table. However, it is a different matter when gambling occurs in a for-profit locations

such as a video lottery parlor, casino or racetrack. In the latter situa-tions, gamblers cannot win on a long-term basis.

What motivates people to gamble? Some of the erroneous beliefs have been identified by the West Virginia Problem Gamblers Help Net-work, and are listed below. This list is not exhaustive, but it includes:• Gambling is a healthy recreation.• Gambling is an easy way to earn money.• I’m a lucky person.• I’m smart, I have a system to beat the odds.• Dedicated gamblers are usually bright and creative.• The more money I have to gamble with, the better my chances of

winning. Even if I have only a few bucks, I’m better off taking a shot.

• Gambling makes me feel better.

(Beliefs, continued on page 13)

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TheCounselor’sCornerThe Counselor’s Corner

• Gambling will be the solution to my problems. I have to make as much money as I can as quickly as I can.

• My gambling is under control.• I don’t have to quit, I can just cut down

and ration my gambling. Someday I’ll score a really big win and quit with honor.

Then there are these beliefs:• If only I knew why I gamble, I could stop.• I can’t afford to pay for treatment or take

time off from work to get help.• Suicide will solve my problem.

As counselors of gamblers, we find that gamblers tend to remember wins and to forget losses, that random wins, what psy-chologists call an intermittent reinforcement schedule, encourage thought processes that tell the gambler it is possible to win in the long run, and board games are to gambling addicts as New Year’s Eve is to alcoholics.

Fortunately, gambling problems CAN be overcome and eliminated with a few months of weekly counseling with a trained coun-selor. After coping with the immediate issue of stopping the financial bleeding in the family, the above list of dysfunctional beliefs is one starting point for dealing with the underlying psychological factors which drive a person to gamble.

(Beliefs, continued from page 12)

Grief and Loss in Gambling TreatmentSubmitted by: Gina Fricke

Gambling and grief are interconnected. In my work with pathological gamblers I have learned there are no gamblers who are not also grievers. I felt so strongly about this last summer that I signed up for training by the Grief Recovery Institute (www.grief.net). My first impression when I saw the flier was, “WOW, $1,800!” I was not sure if it would be worth it or not. I called the Institute and talked to Russel Friedman. He had so much passion in his voice and in what he said about grief recovery and the book that he co-authored, he was confident that the process explained in the “Grief Recovery Handbook”was life changing. What he said gave me hopethat there really is a better way to work with clients on their grief. I have been working with gambling clients for over six years and have come to the conclusion that the tradi-tional grief work is actually retraumatizing.

When I talked to Russel, he suggested that Iborrow the “The Grief Recovery Handbook”from my local library and read the first five chapters. I did just that. I felt validated in my own grief. I have read a lot of self help books and this one seemed different. It seemed more relevant to me. They talk about grief being, “anything we would have liked to be different, better or more and anything that has gotten in the way of our hopes, dreams or expectations.” “The Grief Recovery Hand-book” also mentions that, going through this process will help the reader, “…choose com-pletion and recovery rather than isolation and avoidance.” These people must really know the people I am working with. My clients really know how to avoid and escape!

After reading those chapters and deciding to continue listening (audio book) to the rest of the book, I was hooked. I signed up for the certification training. I was under the impres-sion that I would have to work on one of my own grief issues, that couldn’t be too big of a

deal, right? I had been in therapy for a few years to make sure that I was not bringing my family of origin issues into sessions with my clients. I was convinced I had already done all the work I needed to do.

The training group was very small, a very reasonable number for us to quickly get to an intimate level of communication. The facili-tator was wonderful, she did some self-disclo-sure the first day. This was much different that what I expected. She validated our emo-tions. We discussed the book and went through the process outlined in it, and in the four day training I worked on my grief and loss issues and learned how to apply this knowledge to my work with clients. This was a real life changing experience for me!

The “Grief Recovery Handbook” by John James and Russell Friedman walks the griever through a three-step process about how to address our grief in a healthy way. The three main “action steps” help the client buildawareness and process the grief in a short, safeway that validates the client and allows theclient to discuss grief it order to move throughto another place on the road to recovery.

I have been working this process since August 2008 with my clients who are inter-ested. My clients who are willing to do this challenging work seem to be getting better more quickly than with the traditional work. They are discussing things not previously discussed. They are feeling validated and learning new ways to listen to those around them who are also grieving. They are more confident in their recovery and are recognizing other addictions more readily.

If you are even somewhat interested in this process, please look into the Grief Recovery Institute’s website, send me an email, call the institute and/or read the “The Grief Recov-ery Handbook – 20th Anniversary Expanded

Edition” by John James and Russell Fried-man. Our clients have experienced such significant grief and loss; I really believe this is the tool to help them move beyond the grief and loss into their gambling and grief recovery.

14 National Council on Problem Gambling

TheCounselor’sCornerThe Counselor’s Corner

Helping Our Gambling Clients in Difficult Economic TimesSubmitted By: Dan Altman

The recession has hit Main Street with a ven-geance. State funding and resourses for gam-bling counselors have been cut nationwide. During these worrisome times, we could all be a little more creative and enterprising so as to meet the needs of our clients and at the same time keep our heads above water.

Funding may have been cut, but recessions don’t matter to addicts. They still find a way to gamble. They may be a little more inven-tive in securing gambling money, but the issues are all still out there. We just need to find a way to meet the addicts needs with diminishing resources.

Times like these open doors to resourceful thinking and innovative tactics in our prac-tices.

I have put together a plan of action that I have instituted in my practice. These ideas have helped me meet the needs of most of my clients and allowed me to keep my prac-tice going.

1. Be creative with your scheduling. Bi-monthly sessions can allow you to stay in touch with your clients and at the same time cut back on actual face-to-face time.

2. Discharge folks who are on their way to a solid recovery so that more in-need clients can be fit into your schedule.

3. Try to collect larger co-pays, or if your clients are able, have them pay for your services in their entirety depending less on the state for your income.

4. Put some of your one-on-ones into group so that you are not providing so many individual services.

5. Outreach education helps by informing people in the community so that folks can be helped before their gambling gets out of control.

6. Keep your own moral up when purse strings are tightening by turning to your peers for support and knowing what you are doing is important. Spend time taking care of yourself.

7. During these troubled times, if your hours are cut it may allow you to put your

efforts into another part-time activity, whether paid or volunteer, where you could provide some expertise and add to your counseling knowledge base.

Having to face a challenging beginning to 2009, I’m choosing to look at these tough economic times with some optimism.

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Toll-Free Helpline (800) 522-4700 15

Counseling the Pathological Gambler (I and II)Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - Thursday, April 30, 2009Web-Based, On Demand

Counseling the Pathological Gambler I: This online course provides the opportunity for mental health practitioners, health care providers and addiction professionals to develop the skills necessary to effectively diagnose and assess the pathological gambler, provide individualized treatment, and define the necessary components for effective develop-ment of a gambling treatment program.Counseling the Pathological Gambler II: This online course provides the opportunity for mental health practitioners, health care providers and addiction professionals to develop the advanced skills necessary to recom-mend or integrate effective treatment interventions.

Contact: Elizabeth George info@nati.org 218-722-1503

Phase 1 Pathological Gambling Training ProgramThursday, April 16, 2009 - Friday, April 17, 2009Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling, 1423 Kellogg Street, Green Bay, WI 54303

OBJECTIVES: History and prevalence of gambling and problem gam-bling -Types of gamblers -Definitions of gambling -Screening and assess-ment -Co-morbid and co-occurring disorders -Family counseling -Group and Individual counseling strategies and treatment approaches to prob-lem gambling*Phase 1 is a prerequisite for Phase 2.Who Should Attend:These programs are designed for those counselors who are or plan to be working with problem gamblers and their families in a variety of clinical settings. We welcome participants from the criminal justice field, the employee assistance field, the faith and pastoral care traditions, educators, the gaming industry, the recovering community and others to our pro-grams. Though the information is designed for counselors to incorporate into their clinical practice we hope all of our participants, no matter who they may be, will learn about the effects of problem gambling on the individual, family and community and use the information to help those who fall into your own professional scope of practice. Completion of 30 hours of gambling-specific training education may allow participants to become eligible as a referral source for the Wisconsin Council on Prob-lem Gambling’s 1-800-GAMBLE-5 Helpline.CEU Information: These workshops have been endorsed by the Wiscon-sin Council on Problem Gambling, Inc., Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, National Council on Problem Gambling, and the Wisconsin Department of Regulations and Licensing for 15 hours each phase. Social Work for 14 hours each phase.

Contact: wcpgamble5@new.rr.com 920-437-8888

Responsible Gambling Council: Discovery 2009 ConferenceSunday, April 19, 2009 - Wednesday, April 22, 2009Sheraton Hotel & Conference Centre, Niagara Falls, OntarioContact: Robin Wilner 416-499-9800

CDMHAS: The Treatment of Pathological Gambling: Ongoing Clinical Seminar and Case ConferenceWednesday, April 22, 2009Tele-Conference

Each program will consists of a one and one-quarter hour long telephone conference call with up to ten participants on the line at a time. This includes group leader(s).

Contact: David Spalding david.spalding@po.state.ct.us 860-262-5997

Delaware Council on Gambling Problems: The Healing Power of PresenceThursday, April 23, 2009 - Friday, April 24, 2009Dates and Locations: April 23, 2009 Community Services Building 100 W. 10th Street Wilmington, DE 19801 April 24, 2009 Hampton Inn 18826 Coastal Highway Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971Contact: Susan Edgar 302-655-3261

CASAT (Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies): Health and Human Sciences (HCS) 439/639-Exploring Gambling BehaviorsSunday, April 26, 2009 - Tuesday, August 18, 2009Web-Based, Online

This course will orient students to the definitions, history and incidence of problem and compulsive gambling. Students will learn the characteris-tics of compulsive gambling behaviors, stages of progression of the disor-der of pathological gambling, distinctions and connections to other addictions, as well as the effect on families and communities relative to financial, legal, and social issues. Students will gain an understanding of the impact of gambling in Nevada as an industry and the prevalence of the problem in Nevada compared to other states and countries.

Contact: Terra Hamblin thamblin@casat.org 1-866-617-2816

CASAT (Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies): Health and Human Sciences (HCS) 440/640-Treatment of Compulsive GamblingSunday, April 26, 2009 - Tuesday, August 18, 2009Web-Based, OnlineProvides a thorough understanding of counseling strategies for compulsive gambling. Provides knowledge and skills to utilize when assessing, planning and implementing treatment. Clinical implications to and applications for individual, family, financial and legal issues of gambling addiction provided. Prerequisite: HCS 439/639.Contact: Terra Hamblin thamblin@casat.org 1-866-617-2816

Calendar of EventsFor more information on these events, please visit

our website www.ncpgambling.org

National Newsletter Submissions

NCPG encourages submissions for the newsletter from its members. Min. Words: 150/Max. Words: 1,000. All requests must be submitted by July 17, 2009 for the next issue.

Send your submission to melissam@ ncpgambling.org or via mail to: NCPG, Attn: Melissa Martin, 730 11th Street, NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20001.

Questions? Contact Melissa at 202-547-9204 or melissam@ ncpgambling.org.

We’re Ready to Listen.If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, give us a call.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline provides toll-free,

confidential help 24 hours a day.

1-800-522-4700

National Helpline Report1st Quarter 2009

Each quarter, in the National News, the National Council on Problem Gambling will provide an overview of the calls placed to the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network (800-522-4700) for the previous months along with a summary of the total calls received year-to-date.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline Network is a single nation wide point of access network comprised of 27 call centers, with several centers answering calls for multiple states. Each call center is staffed with professionals who are fully trained to deal with problem gambling calls including those in crisis situations.

Since January 2009, the National Helpline has received over 68,000 calls. The month of March depicted the highest call volume with more than 23,000 calls placed to the National Helpline; a 5% in-crease from March 2008. Overall, this quarter saw an 7% increase in calls volume in comparison to January through March 2008.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline Network is a 24/7, 100% confidential resource that provides hope and help to problem gamblers and their loved ones. The helpline number (800-522-4700) can be dialed toll free anytime and anywhere in the United States as well as from various parts of Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Helpline Network Call Volume – 1st Quarter 2009

Helpline Calls 2008 vs 2009 Month-to-Date