Battling growing gambling addiction in Canada

Battling growing gambling addiction in Canada
By Douglas Todd

Gambling addiction is front-page news in The Vancouver Sun today, after Jeff Lee and Jonathan Fowlie wrote about the way senior health officials are opposing a giant expansion of the city's Edgewater Casino into B.C. Place.

I wrote about some of the effective ways other countries are dealing with gambling addiction in a January column. It's a major ethical and social challenge.

It's fascinating to see Dr. Perry Kendall affirm that the recommendations of Dr. John Carsley, a VCHA medical officer, are in line with concerns being expressed by other Canadian health officials that problem gambling is a serious national disease.

On Tuesday night, Carsley stunned a public hearing on the casino issue by saying the expansion has prompted the health authority to weigh in under new Public Health Act rules that require it to consult with municipalities on issues of public health.

Sometimes problem gamblers need help, including from legislators, in dealing with their temptations.