“Fun” Beginnings At first, gambling was just ‘fun’—a night out with friends, a way to feel like I was ‘winning’ in a world where I didn’t always feel successful. "Wow, this is easy money!" I thought. Of course, that’s exactly what the casino wants you to believe. But what I didn’t realize was that the| The Phoenix Spirit
We feature an expert in the mental health and substance use disorder field to answer questions. This issue we talk to Katie Richard of Vinland National Center about helping those with problem gambling. What is your role at Vinland National Center and what inspired / led you to work with compulsive gamblers? Currently I am Vinland’s| The Phoenix Spirit
Problem gambling negatively affects individuals, families, and communities in Minnesota. The behavior patterns associated with problem gambling compromise activities of daily living such as relationships, education and vocational opportunities, personal and financial well-being, substance use, emotional stability, physical health, and housing. Problem gambling also impacts families and other loved ones. It contributes to chaos and| The Phoenix Spirit
We reached out to several providers in the Twin Cities to check in about their successes and challenges. All of them are seeing an increase in utilization of their services. What types of substance use (SUD) / mental health (MH) disorders are you seeing more of? Jeremiah Gardner Hazelden Betty Ford We are seeing more| The Phoenix Spirit
Some gamblers lose everything, even their lives We all like to win. Some people, though, obsess about winning and sacrifice everything they care about to pursue the next big win. They typically go down hard and fast. Money losses are quick and massive. Friends and family react with horror and disdain when finding out they’re| The Phoenix Spirit