By Donecia Pea
doneciapea@gannett.com
Just like other addictive disorders, cases of problem gambling typically increase during difficult times, and Gov. Kathleen Blanco wants to create awareness of the issue.
Blanco has declared today through Sunday National Problem Gambling Awareness Week in Louisiana.
In January, the gaming market increased 5.6 locally and almost 10 percent more statewide, according to statewide revenue numbers reported last month.
However, industry observers attribute that increase largely to out-of-state recovery workers and federal assistance checks.
"We know that before the recent hurricanes, there were as many as 126,000 problem and pathological gamblers in Louisiana who could benefit from services aimed at curbing their addiction," said Michael Duffy, assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Hospitals Office for Addictive Disorders.
"Now many of these people have probably relocated to other parts of the state and we have taken steps to make sure our services are there to help them as needed."
Though Hurricane Katrina forced the closure of CORE South, an inpatient gambling treatment center in New Orleans, the OAD plans to fund a halfway house specifically for recovering addicts near CORE: Center of Recovery in Shreveport to better serve the state.
The state also offers a toll-free help line at (877) 770-7867 that handles calls from people with gambling problems and a Web site aimed targeted at preventing problem gambling in youth at www.thegamble.org.
©The Times
doneciapea@gannett.com
Just like other addictive disorders, cases of problem gambling typically increase during difficult times, and Gov. Kathleen Blanco wants to create awareness of the issue.
Blanco has declared today through Sunday National Problem Gambling Awareness Week in Louisiana.
In January, the gaming market increased 5.6 locally and almost 10 percent more statewide, according to statewide revenue numbers reported last month.
However, industry observers attribute that increase largely to out-of-state recovery workers and federal assistance checks.
"We know that before the recent hurricanes, there were as many as 126,000 problem and pathological gamblers in Louisiana who could benefit from services aimed at curbing their addiction," said Michael Duffy, assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Hospitals Office for Addictive Disorders.
"Now many of these people have probably relocated to other parts of the state and we have taken steps to make sure our services are there to help them as needed."
Though Hurricane Katrina forced the closure of CORE South, an inpatient gambling treatment center in New Orleans, the OAD plans to fund a halfway house specifically for recovering addicts near CORE: Center of Recovery in Shreveport to better serve the state.
The state also offers a toll-free help line at (877) 770-7867 that handles calls from people with gambling problems and a Web site aimed targeted at preventing problem gambling in youth at www.thegamble.org.
©The Times