Compulsive Gambling Treatment Services
 The Deschutes County Mental Health Department offers an outpatient treatment program for problem gamblers who are residents of either Deschutes, Crook or Jefferson Counties.
What is Compulsive Gambling?
The American Psychiatric Association describes compulsive gambling as a serious illness characterized by an uncontrollable preoccupation and urge to gamble despite painful consequences caused by gambling.
Most gamblers who are able to control their gambling activities do not have problems. For compulsive gamblers, however, the "action" of gambling provides intense feelings of excitement which are irresistible. They become dependent on "the action" of gambling similar to the way chemically dependent people become addicted to drugs or alcohol. When gambling is out of control, people may experience severe financial, family, legal and other problems.
There are an estimated 10 million Americans who are compulsive gamblers, and 40 million family members who are effected by the illness.
How Do I Know If I Have A Problem?
The self-help organization, Gamblers Anonymous, has 20 Questions designed to help people become more aware of their gambling problem.
- Did you ever lose time from work because of gambling?
- Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
- Did gambling ever effected your reputation?
- Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
- Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
- Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
- After losing, did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
- After a win, did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
- Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
- Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
- Have you ever sold anything to finance your gambling?
- Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
- Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself and your family?
- Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
- Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
- Have you ever committed or considered committing an illegal act to finance gambling?
- Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
- Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
- Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
- Have you ever considered self-destruction as a result of your gambling?
Compulsive Gamblers will usually answer YES to at least seven of these questions.
How Can I Obtain Help?
Anyone in need of help may call the Mental Health Department at 541-322-7500 to make an appointment for an evaluation with a therapist.
At the evaluation, the therapist will conduct a thorough assessment. Both the therapist and the client will participate in designing an individual treatment plan.
Treatment consists of individual, group or family therapy with a focus on learning how to stop gambling and live a meaningful life. People in the treatment program will also be encouraged to become involved with the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous.
Treatment Services Are Free of Charge
Please call 1-877-2-STOP-NOW or go to www.oregonlotteryhelp.org
Deschutes County Mental Health
2577 N.E. Courtney Drive
Bend, OR 97701
541-322-7500
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