Gamblers Anonymous
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Gambling problems are common as any other problem like alcoholism, or drug abuse. And just like those issues have support groups and rehabilitation programs, there is a program from problem gamblers, too.
Gamblers Anonymous is a treatment program and support for compulsive gamblers. Compulsive gamblers are not only those who gamble frequently, but those who go on ocassional gambling binges. To understand whether you or a loved one needs to join their local Gambler’s Anonyomous group, you must realize that you can become addicted to the adrenline rush that you get from winning, as you can become addicted to alcohol, or the high on drugs. The same way which you require more alcohol or drugs to induce the same high you used to get in the beginning is the same way that you must increase your bets or your frequency, to get the same rush from gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous began in September of 1957 when two strangers met and discovered they both had issues with gambling. Now, they are a nationwide group that offers supports to countless gamblers. There are locations for meetings nationwide, and to find one in your area, check out this website: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/mtgdirTOP.html. There are two different types of meetings for the public.
Open Meetings are open to the family, friends, and other people related to the gamblers in the program.
Closed Meetings are open only to the gamblers themselves who have a desire to stop the compulsive gambling and what it is doing to their lives.
Gamblers Anonyomous does have a 12 step recovery program similar to that of Alcoholics Anonymous and does not solicit memebers. Their 12 step program can be found on their website, and is as follows:
1. “We admitted we were powerless over gambling - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to a normal way of thinking and living.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of this Power of our own understanding.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral and financial inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have these defects of character removed.
7. Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having made an effort to practice these principles in all our affairs, we tried to carry this message to other compulsive gamblers.”
If you or someone you know is a compulsive gambler, get in touch with GA today!
