Cortland Prevention Resources looks to curb problem gambling

The following is a republished press release from a community organization and not an article written by The Cortland Voice … to submit a community announcement, press release or information about an upcoming event, email Peter Blanchard at [email protected].


Cortland Prevention Resources has partnered with the New York Council on Problem Gambling to carry-out the YOU(th) Decide initiative in Cortland County. Cortland Prevention Resources has been a part of this project for three years. 2016 marks the fifth year that the NY Council on Problem Gambling has worked with local providers in an effort to prevent underage and problem gambling.

YOU(th) Decide is designed to be a multi-dimensional prevention effort aimed at reducing underage gambling. Local providers participating in the YOU(th) Decide Project will educate youth, work with local community leaders to decrease the availability of gambling at family and youth-focused events, and will conduct media and outreach campaigns.

In New York State, as in many other states, you must be at least 18 years of age to legally gamble. However, the most recent research indicates that among United States youth between the ages of 14 and 21, 68% have gambled in the past year, and 11% have gambled twice a week or more. Of those youth, 6.5% are at-risk for, or have already developed, a gambling problem (Welte, 2007).

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Underage gambling brings with it a number of negative consequences, many of which are serious, and can be devastating to the youth as well as his/her family and friends. The younger an adolescent begins gambling, the more likely he/she is to develop a gambling addiction. Underage gamblers are at an increased risk of delinquency and crime, damaged relationships and poor academic performance (Wynne et al., 1996). Youth who gamble are also more likely than their non-gambling peers to develop mental health issues including depression and alcohol/substance abuse disorders (Hardoon et al, 2002), to attempt suicide (Gupta and Derevensky, 1998), and to maintain poor general health (Potenza et al, 2002).

If you, or your child, would like to learn more about YOU(th) Decide, or would like to get involved, please contact Ethan Lewis at (607) 756-8970 ext 252 or email at [email protected]. Cortland Prevention Resources is a division of Family Counseling Services that provides alcohol, tobacco and other drug related education, information, referrals and community based prevention services throughout the Cortland County area.

The New York Council on Problem Gambling is a not-for-profit independent corporation dedicated to increasing public awareness about problem and compulsive gambling and advocating for support services and treatment for persons adversely affected by gambling. The Council maintains a neutral stance on gambling and is governed by a Board of Directors.

Find out more at www.YOUthDecide.org

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