Gambling Addiction: Costs California $1 Billion Per Year

New help available to those with problem gambling


Gambling addiction affects one out of 25 Californians. The financial toll of this is estimated to be nearly $1 billion each year.

Now there is help - and it's free.

The UCLA Gambling Studies Program and the California Office of Problem Gambling have teamed up to design, deliver and evaluate a statewide publicly funded treatment program.

The program consists of six treatment components ranging from outpatient and residential treatment to brief interventions and training for licensed health providers on treating problem gambling.

Although one component involves counseling at UCLA, there are plans to provide treatment by telephone and one-on-one in a health professional's office statewide.
"This is a collaborative effort between the state of California and a major research institution to develop evidence-based methods to address gambling addiction," said Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of the Gambling Studies Program and a UCLA associate professor of psychiatry.

UCLA experts will be monitoring treatment "to see how it sticks" and continuing their research to better understand why some can easily walk away from a gaming table or machine and others become consumed by the gambling rush.

"No one asks to be addictive....it has to do with

Although one component involves counseling at UCLA, there are plans to provide treatment by telephone and one-on-one in a health professional's office statewide.
"This is a collaborative effort between the state of California and a major research institution to develop evidence-based methods to address gambling addiction," said Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of the Gambling Studies Program and a UCLA associate professor of psychiatry.

UCLA experts will be monitoring treatment "to see how it sticks" and continuing their research to better understand why some can easily walk away from a gaming table or machine and others become consumed by the gambling rush.

"No one asks to be addictive....it has to do with

Although one component involves counseling at UCLA, there are plans to provide treatment by telephone and one-on-one in a health professional's office statewide.
"This is a collaborative effort between the state of California and a major research institution to develop evidence-based methods to address gambling addiction," said Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of the Gambling Studies Program and a UCLA associate professor of psychiatry.

UCLA experts will be monitoring treatment "to see how it sticks" and continuing their research to better understand why some can easily walk away from a gaming table or machine and others become consumed by the gambling rush.

"No one asks to be addictive....it has to do with neuro chemicals associated with pleasure and rewards," Fong said.

A component of this pilot program rolling out next year will involved training for family members, so they can better understand the dynamics of gambling addiction and be better able help the gambler with their illness.

While it may seem surprising that financially strapped California is rolling out a multi-million dollar gambling assistance program, the money is coming from the state's gambling industry, not the general fund, said Terry Sue Canale, deputy director, Office of Problem Gambling.

The UCLA/state program has trained about 300 counselors statewide and will probably train another 200 by mid-2011, said Gary Lange, a psychologist in Rancho Mirage who is one of the trainers.

"I think quitting gambling is more difficult than alcohol and more difficult than most drugs," Lange said. "The support system is important. Family support can double the chances of recovery."

A definitive study in 1999 found that people who live within 50 miles of a casino are twice as likely to develop a gambling problem, Lange said.

"People can wake up in the middle of the night and get to a casino," he said.