By Bob Vecchiotti
Copyright keenesentinel
“Life is a gamble” is a phrase that seems to justify the rising number of gambling addictions in the U.S.
The situation calls for social service agencies to take a close look at how to deal with it and slow its progress. Agencies that deal with drug and alcohol abuse are pivoting scarce resources to address this growing problem. Studies acknowledge the connection between alcohol and gambling. The treatment for both overlap.
Up to 20 million Americans, mostly men, are struggling with some form of gambling addiction. This condition can begin with adolescents and continue with young adults. Online gambling is often the most frequent form.
The impact on the workforce shows itself in absenteeism, personal financial stress and strained relationships, both at work and within the family. Loss of focus can and is affecting productivity at work. Even helping a coworker takes more than one person away from a clear focus on business goals.
The social cost for one gambling addict is estimated to be $30,000 per year. Social service counselors will take time to pivot to deal with gambling though their primary focus in on alcohol and drugs. Yet this can mean adding staff and budget to offer programs for gamblers who have crossed the line into addiction. A complicating factor from research studies shows that people with higher socioeconomic status indicate that alcohol dependence and pathological gambling are highly correlated.
Does your company have a clear policy for gambling addiction? Does it include online gambling? Does it offer aid to families of gambling addicts? This personal and business challenge is relatively new and growing.
Meanwhile, businesses large and small can begin a program of awareness. What are the early signs? What can employees do to better manage their finances to reduce the vulnerability to gambling. Recognize that as a gambler-addict you are stealing money from your family, especially your children.
Once gambling has taken hold, it’s harder to break the habit. Let your employees know why you are offering programs to reduce the addiction. It’s not impossible to beat and it will take programs through your employee assistance programs, training and awareness, hotlines to access professionals who can meet immediate need, and let your employees know the early signs of this addiction.
As a business owner, you set the tone by letting each employee know there is a supportive culture to help those rapidly moving toward addictive gambling. This is an investment that soon returns dividends with focused training and coaching.