March Madness may promote gambling addictions

During the NCAA Tournament, countless Americans created brackets and placed varying amounts of money on the fact that their favorite basketball teams would win. Although this is enjoyable for many, it can be dangerous for individuals struggling with gambling addictions, according to Buffalo's WBEN radio.

March Madness is one of the largest gambling events in sports, clinical social worker Matthew Jost told the news source. It is also one of the most difficult events for an addict to avoid, as brackets give gamblers the chance to bet their money in many different ways.

Research by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) found that millions of Americans suffer from a gambling problem during any given year. According to the council, while about 2 to 3 percent of the national population – or 6 to 9 million Americans – have an addiction, very few will seek help from individuals such as those who have launched social work careers.

According to Help Starts Here, social workers can assist in addiction cases, such as gambling, in a variety of ways. Individuals in the field can advocate for their patients in order to get them into a treatment program, for example.

People who want to help others combat addiction may be interested in earning a master of social work degree.

POSTED BY: ec_admin - April 8th, 2011 at 06:17pm ( 0 )