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Legalized gambling is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. Its tremendous popularity is evident in the recent rise in the number of casinos and off-track-betting parlors. At the same time, billboards on major highways often depict the excitement and action available at these facilities.
For the majority of the industry’s patrons, gambling is a form of harmless entertainment. Unfortunately, according to the US National Library of Medicine, it can be a devastating illness that can have a negative effect on every aspect of the lives of the 4 to 6 percent of people who become pathological or problem gamblers.
The Consequences of Not Finding Gambling Addiction Help
Don’t let your gambling addiction go any further.
Pathological gambling can have a detrimental effect on the gambler, their employers, their families and the community. As they go through the phases of their addiction, they spend less time with their loved ones while spending more of their family’s hard-earn money on gambling until their bank accounts are completely depleted.
At the same time, their tendency to steal money from other family members increases. At the work place, a pathological gambler often misuses their time so that they can gamble. Aside from that, they have a difficulty finishing projects and concentrating. They may also engage in employee theft, embezzlement and other illegal activities.
A Place That Provides Help
In order to prevent this addiction from getting out of hand, relatives or friends should help their loved one who is addicted to this vice seek help for their dependency. The best places that provide people with gambling addiction help are inpatient rehabilitation centers.
People are constantly monitored when they are admitted to these facilities. Things that they would have used in order to gamble such as the Internet and the phone are completely taken away from them.
A Well-Coordinated Service
Inpatient gambling treatment programs provide an integrated and coordinated service in a hospital setting. Addiction treatment is provided 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. At the same time, it gives people valuable gambling addiction help with a wide range of therapeutic activities that are often designed to meet the individual needs of patients.
What is good about this treatment is that it is kept confidential. A patient’s records are always safe and private. Aside from that, every effort is made to ensure confidentiality.
A Friendly Environment
Although many gambling addicts cringe at the thought of admitting themselves to inpatient rehabilitation, they often admit that it is an environment that can help them shake off their dependency. The main goal is providing a protective environment that includes support, medical stabilization and treatment for gambling disorders.
At the same time, these centers are manned by well-trained staff and counselors who will help an addict learn about why they have began gambling along with the factors that made it hard for them to stop. They are also taught important skills that can help them to stay away from gambling as many addicts learn to realize how it can get out of hand.