Gamblers treatment program set to begin

Friday, Dec. 28, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

Compulsive gambling

Signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling as provided by the Salvation Army from various sources:

Unable to meet financial obligations; frequently is "missing money;" commits fraud, theft, forgery, embezzlement to get money to gamble; frequently borrows money from others (called "bailouts"); careless of the welfare of the family;is frequently absent from work and lacks a full paycheck; frequently makes trips to pawn shops to hock or sell personal items; has poor money management skills; has money but does not buy necessities; is deeply in debt; always has money concerns.

Commonly exhibits restlessness, irritability, mood swings, low frustration tolerance and indecision; has frequent headaches, upset stomach, diarrhea, anorexia, insomnia, cold sweats, tremors and heart palpitations; thinks of -- and has a past history of -- suicide attempts; is frequently depressed.

Frequently thinks and speaks about gambling; lies to hide the extent of gambling; is impulsive; has a loss of ambition; undergoes personality changes as gambling progresses; generally craves stimulation, excitement, change and risk-taking; has a history of unsuccessful attempts to cut back or stop gambling.

Compulsive gambling is more frequent in males (men tend to be more grandiose while women frequently tend to isolate), non-whites, those under age 34, those who have a high school education or less; compulsive gamblers generally control the household finances and usually are adult children of alcoholics or drug addicts.

The Las Vegas Salvation Army on Wednesday will launch a residential treatment program for problem gamblers in what officials hope will become a model nationwide for similar compulsive behavior treatments.

"We knew from its conception it would be controversial," said George Manska, first vice chairman of the Salvation Army Clark County Command Advisory Board. "But we also realize that Las Vegas is a natural for a new program like this. We believe gaming companies from casinos to slot-machine makers will support our efforts because they realize the fallout of problem gambling and they want to show the world they are socially responsible."

Salvation Army Clark County Command spokesman Charlie Desiderio said the agency in early January will unveil its three-tier comprehensive gambling treatment project -- it eventually will include the building of a dormitory for recovering gambling addicts -- to local gaming companies to seek their support.

"We believe the gaming industry will find this program to be a positive thing," Desiderio said. "In places like Milwaukee, where there are many breweries, there is great support from the alcohol industry for Salvation Army programs that address problem drinking."

Las Vegas clinical psychologist Dr. Rob Hunter, director of the Problem Gambling Center outpatient clinic, said he believes the gaming industry will be open to the Salvation Army's concept and will support it if it is a worthwhile venture.

"There is a very different stance in the gaming industry today than years ago," Hunter said. "Without state government having addressed problem gambling as a health issue, the industry is voluntarily addressing it.

"We have to remember that other states approved gambling knowing the social problems associated with it, and enacted legislation to address that. In Nevada, gambling was legal long before those health consequences were known."

Hunter said he is aware of the Salvation Army's plans for a residential treatment center and is supportive of the program.

"Problem gamblers come in all shapes and sizes," he said. "At our last graduating class from our program we had two attorneys, a mortgage banker and an unemployed construction worker -- a wide range of people."

And a wide range of organizations, both pro and con on the gaming issue, are sure to monitor the success or failure of the Salvation Army's venture.

"This will be the first program of its type and we know a lot of people will be watching us, so we have to be careful," Manska said. "We'll take it one step at a time and not try to bite off too much at once."

Terry Robinson, clinical program director for the local Salvation Army, said studies have found similarities between problem gambling and other addictions, such as drugs and alcohol.

"We began asking people in our Adult Rehabilitation Program who were being treated for substance abuse if they also had a gambling problem because we had a sneaky suspicion that was the case," Robinson said. "Our study found that one-third of our inpatients had a gambling problem."

Las Vegas sociologist Dr. Fred Preston, who has conducted what is regarded as the area's most comprehensive study of the homeless and gambling, said the Salvation Army's findings appear on target.

"We found a significant percentage of homeless who were still gambling while they were living on the streets," Preston said. "So a residential program like this is sorely needed.

"Historically, programs like the one at Charter Hospital that dealt with gambling and other addictions worked well until the insurance companies stopped paying for inpatient treatment for compulsive gamblers."

The Salvation Army's three-tiered plan of attack includes first providing an 18-week counseling program for its current substance abuse inpatients who also have gambling problems.

The second tier is a five-day-per-week outpatient program at the Salvation Army's adult rehabilitation center. The third tier consists of two parts -- first a residential program with 20 beds in an existing facility followed by the construction of a new building on Judson Street.

"The difference between our program and others like Gamblers Anonymous is that while they are support groups we will be a treatment center," Robinson said.

Gary Zielinski, finance director of the Salvation Army, said public support is paramount to the organization succeeding with each step of the process.

"Initially, we will spend $50,000 the first year for a counselor, supplies and reference materials," Zielinski said. "The second tier will cost $100,000 a year. The residential treatment will cost $250,000 annually and the construction of the new building will cost about $1 million."

The first tier will start Wednesday for the compulsive gamblers identified among the 80 men and 32 women currently in the substance abuse program at the Salvation Army shelter and in its transitional housing on Owens Avenue.

If everything goes as planned, the second tier outpatient program will begin Jan. 2, 2003. The residential program is slated to begin Jan. 2, 2004 and the new treatment center and dormitory could be built and opened by Jan. 2, 2005.

One of the hurdles the agency will have to clear will be the very definition of compulsive gambling, which scholars nationwide have debated.

"All addictions are characterized by a loss of control, preoccupation, compulsivity, narrowing of interests, dishonesty, guilt and chronic relapse -- so that is where we are starting," Robinson said.

"You have a problem with anything -- shopping, gambling, the Internet, etc. -- if there are adverse consequences for your acts: Loss of a job, a breakup of a relationship, abuse of your children or suicide attempts. We call it 'hitting bottom,' and for everyone the bottom is something different."

Treatments will include traditional 12-step methods that have helped people overcome all types of addictions and follow-ups of graduates of the program, which will include checking their bank accounts and utility and rental records to make sure they no longer have a gambling problem, Manska said.