Experts to take over hotline

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. LOUIS -- A hot line for Missourians who are compulsive gamblers is about to become more professional.

Starting Feb. 5, the volunteers who answer calls at the 24-hour hot line will be replaced by trained counselors and social workers, said Lee Judy, executive director for Life Crisis Services. The agency operates the hot line from its office in Richmond Heights.

The hot line is the main pipeline to get gambling addicts to free counseling, which is paid for by a state fund. Hot line callers are referred to the nearest counseling agency, as well as services such as Gamblers Anonymous.

Many of the 100 volunteers currently taking calls are college students who also answer a national suicide hot line. Judy said that occasionally problem gamblers have been put on hold while suicide calls are handled.

The hot line received 192 calls last month. Judy said he was shifting the gambling calls to a staff of 12 people with master's degrees in counseling or social work. The staff, which already answers Alzheimer's and employee assistance hot lines, will get training on compulsive gambling next month.

The gambling hot line -- 1-888-238-7633 -- is paid for by the casino industry. Judy said he will not raise the price when he shifts the calls to professionals.