In Maryland, gambling addiction is growing, but treatment options are not
Michael Rosen, a recovering gambling addict, helps manage the state’s increasingly busy 1-800-GAMBLER helpline. He directs the desperate to Gambler’s Anonymous because the state offers almost no free treatment to addicts. (Andre Chung/For The Washington Post)
Michael Rosen listens to the wreckage that the $1 billion gambling industry has wrought in Maryland.
He listens to the man, $400,000 in debt, whose wife threw him out of the house and told him he couldn’t see his kids again unless he gave up gambling. He listens to the gambler who went on a three-day blackjack binge without sleeping and rarely eating. He listens to the woman facing a jail term for embezzling $135,000 to feed her gambling addiction.
When the pols in Maryland were pushing gambling of all stripes all across the state year after year; they promised they would have Enough help for those who would get addicted. I remember this very well because, at the time, we fought this gambling because it preys on those who can least afford to lose. Of course gambling is designed for 99.95% to lose.
How stupid is this...brakes up families, shorts families of needed cash and resources, invites crime and on and on. But no one listened to reasons Not to allow gambling to explode in this state.
Ok. Just live with it...POLS will do nothing to make this better or clear it up.
Ask o'mally Ask Michael bush Ask mike miller Wasn't ok when ehrlich wanted it but then was all ok when o'taxey came into office Just like was always stated but no one wanted to listen to it did they?
Something had better change and soon.Have you seen the hype about sports gambling? Billions and Billions and isn't our next president making Millions and Millions on gambling? Money is just money even if you stole it.Hey I know why not give some to the Veterans,all there money is already been embezzled/stolen whatever. Don you go boy!!!!
But we had to have those casinos "for the children."
ReplyDeleteWhen the pols in Maryland were pushing gambling of all stripes all across the state year after year; they promised they would have Enough help for those who would get addicted. I remember this very well because, at the time, we fought this gambling because it preys on those who can least afford to lose. Of course gambling is designed for 99.95% to lose.
ReplyDeleteHow stupid is this...brakes up families, shorts families of needed cash and resources, invites crime and on and on. But no one listened to reasons Not to allow gambling to explode in this state.
Ok. Just live with it...POLS will do nothing to make this better or clear it up.
Ask o'mally
ReplyDeleteAsk Michael bush
Ask mike miller
Wasn't ok when ehrlich wanted it but then was all ok when o'taxey came into office
Just like was always stated but no one wanted to listen to it did they?
On the 1st of the month you can walk into any business that has MD Lottery and watch "poor" people spend large amounts of cash on those tickets.
ReplyDeleteMaybe MD can come up with a plan to attract out of State gambling addicts to its casinos. It could be a gold mine!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSomething had better change and soon.Have you seen the hype about sports gambling? Billions and Billions and isn't our next president making Millions and Millions on gambling? Money is just money even if you stole it.Hey I know why not give some to the Veterans,all there money is already been embezzled/stolen whatever. Don you go boy!!!!