Gambling problems arise, solutions offered at workshop

The bright lights shine down upon the green felt tables. After the dealer scoops up the bets, the dice are given to a person with a glaze in his eye. He shakes the dice, blows on them and whips down the table. They crack against each other, finally resting on five and two.

Everyone wins, and the man with the hot hand continues to roll.

While this scenario may sound appealing, the possibility of developing a gambling addiction grows with every roll of the dice. In fact, according to the Illinois Higher Education Center, eight of 10 college-aged students report gambling each year, and one in 20 students report that gambling is a problem that has a significant negative impact on his or her life.

To combat possible gambling addiction, Mark Dixon, associate professor in The Rehabilitation Institute, and John Benshoff, professor at the institute, coordinated a workshop titled "From Theory to Practice in Addiction," Friday at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center.

The sessions, which took place throughout the day, were presented to examine the role alcohol and drugs play in gambling addiction.

Ken Culton, coordinator and clinical counselor of alcohol and other drug programs, said one in 20 students might not seem like a lot, but translated with SIUC's population, that is 1,000 students.

"Gambling doesn't occur in a vacuum, but it's usually involved with drinking," Culton said. Culton said the problem with gambling is it's an accepted tradition on college campus, especially because of Internet gambling.

"The student can sit down with a beer in front of their computer, catch a buzz and get lost in the gambling," Culton said.

Dixon said 1 percent to 3 percent of college students have a gambling problem. He took a survey of 100 students at the Student Center about gambling and found out that at SIUC, the numbers of problem gamblers is closer to 20 percent.

Dixon said people gamble for social attention, to escape from reality and for the thrill of winning or losing.

"We need to do business with problem gamblers," Dixon said. "We need to help them out and get them into therapy."

Dixon, director for SIUC's Gambling Program, said he and his colleagues administer the South Oaks Gambling Screen. The test, which has 30 questions, is the most reliable test for problem gamblers.

After proper diagnosis, Dixon said the most common answer is to send problem gamblers to Gambler's Anonymous.

Dixon said the problem with Gambler's Anonymous is 22 percent don't come back to a second meeting, only 18 percent attend regularly and 7.5 percent are abstinent from gambling after one year.

"Would you have surgery where the success rate is 7.5 percent after one year?" Dixon asked a group of students Friday morning.

Dixon said he and his colleagues offer an eight-week program. He said the first four weeks are spent in groups where individuals learn how they developed the problem and how the problem affects their family members and friends.

Dixon said week five to eight is on an individual basis, where the gambling problem is broken down and he gets the problem gamblers to spend money on other activities other than gambling.

"Instead of spending money on gambling, spend it on your wife or take your kids to the mall," Dixon said.

David Rugowski, a licensed therapist from Centralia, said the procedure to help cure problem gamblers is easier said than done.

Rugowski, who treats substance abuse clients, said there are several good assessments but never a clear answer.

"I do a lot of individualized treatment when I work with patients," Rugowski said. "You have to help them see the consequences of their behavior."

Culton said some problem gamblers win and don't realize there is a problem.

"Not until a compulsive gambler hits bottom and no longer has financial stability will they come to seek help," Culton said. "And that's why we are here: to help out anyone in need."