[{"id":88,"date":"2026-02-03T22:23:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T22:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=88"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:32:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:32:59","slug":"march-is-problem-gambling-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2026\/02\/03\/march-is-problem-gambling-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, in partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), recognizes March as <strong>Problem Gambling Awareness Month<\/strong><strong> (PGAM)<\/strong>. This year\u2019s theme, <strong>\u201cCaring Communities, Stronger Futures,\u201d <\/strong>emphasizes the importance of a community-driven approach to problem gambling awareness and support. The annual campaign aims to increase public awareness of problem gambling and the availability of prevention, treatment, and recovery services, as well as encourage healthcare providers to screen for problem gambling and connect individuals to appropriate support.<br><br>Problem gambling, defined as gambling behaviors that disrupt or damage personal, family, or professional lives, affects millions of Americans. In the U.S. 2.5 million adults (1%) are estimated to meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in a given year. Another 5\u20138 million (2\u20133%) are considered to have mild or moderate gambling problems. Additionally, in the past year, approximately 20 million American adults reported experiencing at least one indicator of problematic gambling behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cVPGH is a source of hope for Virginians who want to transform their lives from problem gambling,\u201d said Jennifer Davis-Walton, Director of Gambling Services. \u201cOur network of providers are trained to support people dealing with this often-hidden addiction and have a deep understanding of its impact on individuals\u2019 relationships and well-being. And we\u2019re committed to investing in research to improve outcomes for support seekers.\u201d<br><br><strong>A Community-Driven Approach to Awareness and Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout March, VPGH will lead efforts focused on increasing public understanding of problem gambling and ensuring individuals are aware of the available prevention, education, treatment, and recovery services in their community. Activities will include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>March 10: Gambling Disorder Screening Day &#8211; Use the <a href=\"https:\/\/vpgh.jotform.com\/250417049602148\">VPGH screener<\/a> to help decide whether to seek formal evaluation of gambling behavior<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>March 25: 3rd Annual Problem Gambling Prevention Conference \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncpgambling.org\/event\/3rd-annual-problem-gambling-and-gaming-prevention-conference\/\">Register for this day of learning and support<\/a> in Abingdon, Virginia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>March 27: Virginia Symposium on Problem Gambling &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/vpgh.jotform.com\/260405405468960\">Register for this virtual event<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vpgh.vcu.edu\/events\/\">VPGH website<\/a> for more information about upcoming events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social media awareness campaign \u2013 Follow VPGH on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61566613750539\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vpghva\">Instagram<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/virginia-partnership-for-gaming-health\/?viewAsMember=true\">LinkedIn<\/a> for information on problem gambling and available support resources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These efforts reflect a simple truth: when community comes together \u2014 friends, families, educators, healthcare providers, local partners, and policymakers \u2014 silence is replaced with support, and isolation is replaced with connection. To learn more about problem gambling, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vpgh.vcu.edu\/\">the VPGH website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VPGH encourages local media, partners, and residents to join the effort by sharing resources, uplifting stories of those in recovery, and helping connect people to available support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, in partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), recognizes March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). This year\u2019s theme, \u201cCaring Communities, Stronger Futures,\u201d emphasizes the importance of a community-driven approach to problem gambling awareness and support. The annual campaign aims to increase public awareness of problem [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":90,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":85,"date":"2026-02-03T04:45:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T04:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=85"},"modified":"2026-02-06T18:04:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:04:24","slug":"chances-and-choices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2026\/02\/03\/chances-and-choices\/","title":{"rendered":"Chances and Choices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In December, VPGH certified peer recovery specialists Azeem Majeed and Matthew Britt facilitated \u201cChances and Choices: Understanding Gambling, Recovery, and Reentry,\u201d a workshop for probationers at the Cold Springs Community Corrections Alternative Program (CCAP) within&nbsp;the Virginia Department of Corrections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Majeed and Britt talked about how risk-taking behaviors can be a coping mechanism for incarcerated individuals, and that gambling is linked to stress, trauma and re-entry pressure. The workshop also outlined common forms of gambling in correctional settings, and signs and symptoms of gambling disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a guided group discussion, Majeed and Britt encouraged participants to reflect on the differences between healthy and unhealthy risk-taking, identify common triggers during re-entry, and how to reach out for support in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2026\/02\/CCAP2-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-87\" style=\"width:472px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2026\/02\/CCAP2-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2026\/02\/CCAP2-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2026\/02\/CCAP2-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2026\/02\/CCAP2-1536x1153.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2026\/02\/CCAP2.jpeg 2047w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But the CCAP workshop was about more than education. Majeed and Britt also shared a message of hope, second chances, and personal empowerment. By addressing problem gambling through a recovery-focused and reentry-informed lens, they hope to help individuals build insight, resilience, and healthier pathways forward as they transition back into the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are a lot of crimes that are motivated by gambling,\u201d Majeed says. \u201cIf they haven\u2019t received treatment for their gambling addiction, it can lead to increased recidivism. We\u2019re trying to stop that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;re providing them with the resources that they need, so that when they re-enter society, they don&#8217;t have to feel like they&#8217;re alone. They&#8217;re going to have that support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The workshop was the first in an ongoing partnership between VPGH and CCAP. The next session is scheduled for February, with plans to host additional sessions every two to three months as new probationers come into the program. VPGH will also provide ongoing peer support groups that meet regularly throughout each month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In December, VPGH certified peer recovery specialists Azeem Majeed and Matthew Britt facilitated \u201cChances and Choices: Understanding Gambling, Recovery, and Reentry,\u201d a workshop for probationers at the Cold Springs Community Corrections Alternative Program (CCAP) within&nbsp;the Virginia Department of Corrections. Majeed and Britt talked about how risk-taking behaviors can be a coping mechanism for incarcerated individuals, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":86,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":83,"date":"2026-02-03T03:06:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T03:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=83"},"modified":"2026-02-06T14:42:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:42:16","slug":"vcu-experts-warn-of-rising-online-and-sports-gambling-risks-for-todays-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2026\/02\/03\/vcu-experts-warn-of-rising-online-and-sports-gambling-risks-for-todays-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU experts warn of rising online and sports gambling risks for today\u2019s youth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What once required a trip to a casino or racetrack now lives on a smartphone \u2013 a shift that is reshaping how young people encounter gambling and raising new concerns for educators across Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u00a0VCU Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health\u00a0(VPGH) presented that changing landscape to health and physical education teachers from across Virginia. The session was led by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/rehab.chp.vcu.edu\/ourteam\/matthew-e-britt.html\">Matt Britt<\/a>, a certified peer recovery specialist with the center, and <a href=\"https:\/\/rehab.chp.vcu.edu\/ourteam\/jared-schultz-phd-crc-lvrc-hs-bcp.html\">Jared Schultz<\/a>, Ph.D., chair of VCU\u2019s Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, which houses the VPGH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, they addressed how online betting, sports gambling and gambling-like features embedded in popular games are increasingly affecting middle and high school students \u2013 often in ways that are easy to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGambling doesn\u2019t look the way it used to,\u201d Britt told the group. \u201cSix or eight years ago, you had to physically go somewhere or know a bookie. Now you have a casino in your pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A blurred line between gaming and gambling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Britt explained that today\u2019s students might not see themselves as gambling at all. Many encounter risk through mobile apps, video games and online platforms that blur the line between gaming and betting \u2013 including features such as loot boxes, in-game purchases and paid chances to unlock rewards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTrading something of value for the chance at something else? That\u2019s gambling,\u201d Britt said. \u201cIt\u2019s just packaged differently now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Britt and Dr. Schultz outlined how easily students can access online betting sites or spend money through games without meaningful age verification. Unlike traditional casinos, many digital platforms rely on self-reporting, making them difficult for adults to monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why educators are on the front line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The presentation emphasized that health and PE teachers, administrators, and school counselors are often among the first adults to notice early warning signs. These can include secrecy around money, changes in behavior, shame or guilt, and preoccupation with betting or gaming outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Schultz framed gambling education as a natural extension of existing health curricula, during a meeting of the Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (APHERD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe already talk about alcohol, vaping and substance use in age-appropriate ways,\u201d he said. \u201cGambling deserves the same evidence-based, nonjudgmental approach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He added that the issue can develop in middle or high school. Then it can grow when individuals reach college-age, when they have more peer interaction and less parental supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than promoting fear or abstinence-only messaging, the VCU team focused on reducing harm, preventing unhealthy behaviors and intervening early. Those tactics can include short classroom discussions, simple activities and open conversations that help students understand risks before problems escalate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Connecting schools to support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A central message of the presentation was that help is available \u2013 and confidential. Virginia\u2019s gambling helpline and statewide network of clinicians and peer recovery specialists provide no-cost, judgment-free support for individuals and families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis isn\u2019t just handing someone a pamphlet,\u201d Britt said. \u201cIt\u2019s ongoing support, tailored to what that person needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Britt, who brings lived experience to his work, the message he hopes educators carry back to their schools is simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s no shame in asking for help,\u201d he said. \u201cThe earlier we start these conversations, the better chance young people have to make informed choices \u2013 and to know they\u2019re not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sub><sup><em>Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@nicontents?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\"><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@silverkblack?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Vitaly Gariev<\/a><\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a-man-sitting-at-a-table-using-a-laptop-computer-Tq64QgLu00A?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/sup><\/sub><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What once required a trip to a casino or racetrack now lives on a smartphone \u2013 a shift that is reshaping how young people encounter gambling and raising new concerns for educators across Virginia. The\u00a0VCU Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health\u00a0(VPGH) presented that changing landscape to health and physical education teachers from across Virginia. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":95,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":79,"date":"2025-12-11T14:09:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=79"},"modified":"2025-12-11T14:10:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:10:39","slug":"virginia-partnership-for-gaming-and-health-joins-2025-gift-responsibly-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-youth-gambling-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2025\/12\/11\/virginia-partnership-for-gaming-and-health-joins-2025-gift-responsibly-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-youth-gambling-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health Joins 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign to Raise Awareness of Youth Gambling Risks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><\/strong>December 11, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CONTACT:<br><\/strong>Emma Freeman<br><a href=\"mailto:freemane@vcu.edu\">freemane@vcu.edu<\/a><br>724-992-2226<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Richmond, Virginia \u2013 The Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health today announced its commitment as a participant of the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America and around the world to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery use. The campaign is organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and supported by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research supports that early exposure to or participation in gambling during childhood is highly correlated with the development of a gambling problem later in life. Gambling exposure during childhood is often through a lottery product, such as lottery tickets or scratch offs. Often these items are given to a child by an adult who is unaware of the associated risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOver the last six years, the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline has seen a 63% increase in callers between the ages of 18 and 24,\u201d said Jennifer Davis-Walton, VPGH Director of Gambling Services. \u201cOur network of providers are trained to support people dealing with this often-hidden addiction and have a deep understanding of its impact on individuals\u2019 relationships and well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re joining the Gift Responsibly Campaign because we want all Virginians to understand the risks of underage gambling and how to get the help they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a participant of the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, during December, VPGH will work to promote awareness about the risks of underage lottery use on its social media channels and share resources for those seeking support for problem gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYouth gambling is a growing risk that too often goes overlooked. The Gift Responsibly Campaign plays a vital role in helping families and communities understand the importance of keeping lottery products out of kids\u2019 hands,\u201d said Derek Longmeier, President of NCPG\u2019s Board of Directors. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to VPGH for joining this effort and working to expand education and awareness to protect young people from gambling-related harm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VPGH works to increase access to treatment by providing no-cost, evidence-based training to clinical providers and peer recovery specialists, and referring support seekers to its network of providers across Virginia. VPGH is also improving outcomes by investing in research to understand the root causes of gambling addiction and explore new treatment strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health<br><\/strong>The Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health (VPGH) at Virginia Commonwealth University aims to inspire hope, build support, and foster solutions that empower every Virginian seeking to transform their lives from problem gambling. VPGH partners with the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to ensure eligible Virginians receive treatment and recovery services. If needed, VPGH covers the cost of treatment to ensure every support seeker\u2019s recovery needs are met. VPGH also provides evidence-based training on problem gambling to its network of clinicians and peer recovery specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the National Council on Problem Gambling<br><\/strong>The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is neutral on legalized gambling. Based in Washington DC, NCPG is the only national nonprofit organization that seeks to minimize the economic and social costs associated with gambling addiction. If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline\u2122, which offers hope and help without stigma or shame. Call 1-800-522-4700, text 800GAM, or visit www.ncpgambling.org\/chat. Help is available 24\/7 \u2013 it is free and confidential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 11, 2025 CONTACT:Emma Freemanfreemane@vcu.edu724-992-2226 Richmond, Virginia \u2013 The Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health today announced its commitment as a participant of the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America and around the world to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery use. The campaign is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":81,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":75,"date":"2025-10-27T20:10:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=75"},"modified":"2025-10-27T20:12:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:12:10","slug":"vcu-research-in-action-understanding-and-treating-problem-gambling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2025\/10\/27\/vcu-research-in-action-understanding-and-treating-problem-gambling\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU research in action: Understanding and treating problem gambling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Carolyn Hawley is analyzing the demographics and behaviors of gamblers to gain critical insights into more effective outreach and prevention strategies.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Joan Tupponce for <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/2025\/09\/vcu-research-in-action-understanding-and-treating-problem-gambling\">VCU News<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elizabeth Childress doesn\u2019t remember a time from her youth when she wasn\u2019t gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI gambled my life, my freedom and my money every day,\u201d Childress said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the age of 18, Childress was also using substances and drinking with friends, a path that quickly led to felony convictions and time in a maximum-security prison where her days were consumed in an endless cycle of gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I was incarcerated, every day we would play spades and gamble everything from noodles to meal trays,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, thanks to the efforts of a Virginia Commonwealth University professor and her colleagues, researchers are seeking to not only better understand stories such as Childress\u2019 but to better understand how to help her and others who suffer from gambling addiction, a condition that is still too often overlooked and understudied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A growing problem<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Carolyn E. Hawley, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling in the College of Health Professions at VCU, is keenly aware of the risks associated with gambling through an assortment of community-minded research projects. Those studies include analyzing the demographics and gambling preferences of people who seek treatment and recovery support through the&nbsp;Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, a consortium of organizations committed to strengthening treatment and recovery services for individuals who need support for problem gambling. Hawley serves as executive director of the VPGH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As gambling options have become more accessible in recent years, more people are choosing to participate in the activity, said Jennifer Davis-Walton, director of gambling services at the VPGH, whose members include the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services, the Virginia Lottery, the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling and the VCU Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling in the College of Health Professions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, recent demographics from the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline point to a 63% increase in callers aged 18 to 24 since 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat is amazing, particularly when you are looking at a young group who are probably people who would not typically reach out,\u201d Hawley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the increased&nbsp;availability of gambling in general, and sports betting specifically, the age of people seeking treatment and recovery support has trended younger than before \u2014 in fact, 25-to-44-year-olds accounted&nbsp;for 50% of hotline support seekers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat is really alarming,\u201d Hawley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary forms of gambling in Virginia \u2013 in order of prevalence \u2013 are sports betting, slots at casinos and online gambling, according to Davis-Walton. Hawley noted that younger people are more likely to play online games, while older populations who may be otherwise socially isolated are more likely to gamble in person.During COVID, sports wagering and wagering on a range of topics, such as the race for governor, became popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA lot of gambling is like the Wild West. These are huge markets that are not regulated,\u201d Hawley said, adding, \u201cWe are way behind the growth of what we see in the gaming market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2018A hidden addiction\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Virginia currently has seven Rosie\u2019s Gaming Emporium locations in operation with another being built in Henrico County and five casinos, three of which are up and running. Unlike cities such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the casinos in Virginia haven\u2019t become destinations for out-of-state patrons. \u201cIt is mostly Virginians using these venues,\u201d Hawley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome of those folks will develop social problems that we end up taking care of \u2013 problems that can decimate families,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawley called gambling \u201ca hidden addiction,\u201d noting that \u201cyou can\u2019t smell it or see it in bloodshot eyes.\u201d That does not mean it isn\u2019t devastating. A gambling addiction too often goes unrevealed until serious consequences for it arrive. For instance, Hawley said some people do not realize they have family members with a gambling addiction until a large sum of money is missing from their accounts or their family member gets arrested for embezzling or otherwise trying to come up with the money for their gambling debts. By then, sometimes, \u201cthere is nothing left,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There hasn\u2019t been a prevalence study on gambling disorder in the U.S. since 1998 because federal funding for research on the issue has not been available, resulting in a lack of critical data, Hawley said. Through her research, though, Hawley estimates there are six to eight million people in the U.S. with a gambling problem, which refers both to severe gambling issues that meet the clinical criteria for gambling disorder and gambling-related problems that occur at a subclinical level or have not yet been formally diagnosed. She estimates two million qualify as having a disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe see higher rates in prevalence studies worldwide with youth and college students in the higher percentile,\u201d Hawley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of her role as president of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling, Hawley took leadership of the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline, which is funded by the Virginia Lottery. She was surprised to find the extent of the barriers to connecting people with treatment resources. A primary culprit is a lack of federal funding for gambling disorders \u2013 especially when compared to other addictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawley is currently looking at what \u201cwe can do with the information we have to better inform policy, workforce development, legislators and service delivery so we know how we can reach people earlier and provide better-informed care,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing the issues with gambling disorders and addictions, Hawley and VCPG advocated for a problem gambling treatment support fund in the state, using some of the tax revenue from sports and casino gambling to form a program that would target prevention and treatment services. The Virginia Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, established in 2020, is overseen by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a funding source in place, VCPG, the Virginia Lottery and VCU met to develop a proposal&nbsp;&nbsp;to quickly get workforce in the state trained to treat individuals with a gambling disorder and to quickly set up an infrastructure to get people into these services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The VPGH\u2019s Treatment and Recovery Model, which includes collecting data for research, is designed to ensure that individuals experiencing gambling problems can quickly and seamlessly access help through a coordinated continuum of care that includes regional peer recovery specialists and a statewide referral network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The model emphasizes speed and efficiency in connecting individuals with care to strengthen outcomes and reduce barriers to care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat is where we worked and built this model at VCU,\u201d Hawley said. \u201cWe thought with VCU\u2019s resources and support, that it would be the best and easiest way. We want to keep growing and building as time goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A helpline with results<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After many years contending with addiction, Childress put her gambling and substance use behind her and, now in recovery, is dedicated to helping other individuals struggling with gambling as a certified peer recovery specialist for the helpline. Childress also is set to graduate from VCU in the spring with a master\u2019s degree from the School of Social Work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When people call into the helpline, they are connected to a staff peer such as Childress who will connect them with a treatment professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The VPGH is continually trying to create awareness about gambling and the importance of support services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGambling has the highest rate of suicide among all addictions,\u201d Davis-Walton said. \u201cResearch is needed to help support and further develop prevention, treatment, recovery and training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peer recovery specialists like Childress have proven to be highly effective, Hawley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSince we\u2019ve added the peer recovery services, there has been a huge increase in people getting help,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople want to talk to people who have been there. They serve as a model to them on what it means to get past this point and provide that help and hope that their life can change. They are invaluable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Childress recognizes the signs and hazards of gambling now, but for years was oblivious to how the addiction was harming her and her loved ones. That\u2019s why her position with the VPGH is so important to her.&nbsp;\u201cI have loved the journey of this job and helping other individuals with a gambling problem,\u201d she said.&nbsp;Ultimately, she said she appreciates the opportunity to be part of the solution in Virginia, one that is strengthening its research roots and expanding its impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><em><sub>Photo by Jonathan Mehring, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications.<\/sub><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carolyn Hawley is analyzing the demographics and behaviors of gamblers to gain critical insights into more effective outreach and prevention strategies. By Joan Tupponce for VCU News Elizabeth Childress doesn\u2019t remember a time from her youth when she wasn\u2019t gambling. \u201cI gambled my life, my freedom and my money every day,\u201d Childress said. By the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":76,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":73,"date":"2025-10-27T20:04:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=73"},"modified":"2025-10-27T20:04:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T20:04:26","slug":"community-outreach-during-recovery-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2025\/10\/27\/community-outreach-during-recovery-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Community outreach during Recovery Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>September was National Recovery Month, and VPGH\u2019s certified peer recovery specialists marked the annual observance by attending conferences and events across Virginia. These events offered an opportunity to raise awareness about problem gambling and connect directly with individuals and families to share VPGH resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>VPGH was a sponsor of the McShin Foundation\u2019s Recovery Fest 2025. <strong>Sean Fournia<\/strong> set up an exhibit table, and <strong>Matthew Britt<\/strong> spoke with individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Azeem Majeed<\/strong> presented to the University of Richmond School of Law&#8217;s Children&#8217;s Defense Clinic. Speaking to a class of law students, he shared his journey to VPGH and the work the organization does. Majeed also met with staff at United Community Solutions to share the VPGH referral process, and presented at The Rising, an event for leaders and lawmakers in support of justice reform for juvenile offenders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elizabeth Childress<\/strong> staffed an exhibit table and spoke with employees at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Danville. The responsible gaming event, held in conjunction with a NASCAR race weekend, is part of an ongoing collaboration with Caesars and Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services. Childress also staffed an exhibit table at the Help, Hope and Healing Conference at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Matthew Britt<\/strong> met with staff at the S.E.E. Recovery Center in Culpeper and spoke about problem gambling awareness and VPGH services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In late August, <strong>Lisa Cochran<\/strong> attended a virtual meeting of the Behavioral Health Docket Advisory Committee for the northwest region where she collaborated with court professionals and presented information on VPGH\u2019s services. She also attended the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services\u2019 Recovery Conference with <strong>Matthew Britt<\/strong>. They staffed an exhibition table and shared VPGH resources with attendees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The summer was equally active. Staff explored potential collaborations with community organizations and local agencies, participated in webinars, attended wellness fairs and recovery conferences, and conducted regular check-ins with support seekers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>September was National Recovery Month, and VPGH\u2019s certified peer recovery specialists marked the annual observance by attending conferences and events across Virginia. These events offered an opportunity to raise awareness about problem gambling and connect directly with individuals and families to share VPGH resources. The summer was equally active. Staff explored potential collaborations with community [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":74,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":71,"date":"2025-10-27T19:48:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=71"},"modified":"2025-10-27T19:56:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:56:58","slug":"changing-the-narrative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2025\/10\/27\/changing-the-narrative\/","title":{"rendered":"Changing the Narrative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For more than 10 years, David L. Robbins has been helping veterans process their experiences in the military through writing as part of the Virginia War Memorial\u2019s Mighty Pen Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not an uncommon strategy. Narrative therapy and writing exposure therapy have long been used to help people break down past traumas and heal by retooling stories about their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Robbins isn\u2019t a therapist\u2014and the Mighty Pen isn\u2019t narrative therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Robbins is a New York Times bestselling author and creative writing professor, and the Mighty Pen\u2019s 12-week writing workshop looks more like what students experience in his classroom at Virginia Commonwealth University. Veterans sign up because they want to learn to write, and Robbins teaches them how. Participants choose their subject matter, and he offers feedback on how to effectively tell their story. Throughout the course, participants form a community and find a safe and supportive environment for sharing difficult experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI liken it to painting,\u201d Robbins says. \u201cIn their left hand, they have a palette full of paint. That\u2019s the story of what happened to them. In their right hand is the painting, where they turn those events into an art form. Through that craft and curation, something honestly magical happens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Robbins doesn\u2019t present the workshops as a therapeutic tool, after more than a decade, he\u2019s found that\u2019s often a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe writing process slows them down,\u201d he says. \u201cSomewhere in the rigor, the attention, the pace, the workshopping, the back and forth, the lessons, the care with which they express their story, it becomes cathartic. Somewhere in there, it interrupts their pattern and begins the healing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, through a research partnership with Jared Schultz, chair of VCU\u2019s Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Robbins is seeking to better understand what makes his methods work\u2014and if they could help those experiencing other forms of trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Making connections<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The partnership began this spring after Robbins crossed paths with Carolyn Hawley, executive director of the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, on the set of CBS 6\u2019s Virginia This Morning. Hawley was there to talk about Problem Gambling Awareness Month and how VPGH helps support seekers. Robbins was promoting <em>War in Pieces<\/em>, a festival of one-act plays written by veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawley asked if he thought his methods might work for people experiencing suicide ideation, addiction, and other kinds of trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t want to sound too confident, because I\u2019ve not worked specifically with a community that was selected for those characteristics,\u201d Robbins says. \u201cBut at the same time, I was confident, because I\u2019ve seen all different kinds of trauma sit down in the room and work with the Mighty Pen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawley, who is also a professor in the VCU Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, proposed a partnership and connected Robbins with Schultz. The pair applied for and received a one-year, $100,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to find out what makes the Mighty Pen so effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A model approach<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the study\u2019s principal investigator, Schultz will observe Robbins\u2019 workshops and measure the effectiveness of the <a href=\"https:\/\/rehab.chp.vcu.edu\/about-us\/research\/vewp\/\">Veteran Experiential Writing Program (VEWP)<\/a>. Schultz aims to enroll 45 participants who will be given pre- and post-assessments to measure changes in suicide risk, depression, and anxiety symptoms. He will also look at final writing assignments to assess changes in participants\u2019 sense of meaning, narrative coherence, and psychological resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat we\u2019ve observed is that some veterans have barriers to sharing,\u201d Schultz says. \u201cThey\u2019ve developed scripts related to [their experiences], because people don\u2019t understand. It\u2019s so foreign to anyone who wasn\u2019t there. There\u2019s an inherent fear of rejection, a fear of being judged, a fear of being seen as non-human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWriting helps them address it obliquely, in as safe a way as possible, and to the depth that they need to. They have a chance to revise, which introduces a level of control over the narrative. They can share their story in a more controlled way where they have more influence over how it\u2019s perceived.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Schultz will also offer guidance to ensure writing prompts and group activities are aligned with trauma-informed practices, such as emotional safety, participant choice, and controlled narrative distancing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure long-term impact of the VEWP, the study includes a \u201ctrain-the-trainer\u201d component. Graduate students from VCU will be trained as future facilitators through weekly instruction and supervision. Schultz and Robbins will also develop a facilitator manual with a curriculum structure and writing prompts, trauma-informed group facilitation strategies, and evaluation tools. These materials will be used to recruit and train new facilitators and, potentially, extend the model to others in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are all kinds of applications where someone is having difficulty expressing their experience in a way that they\u2019re understood and valued by someone else,\u201d Schultz says. \u201cWhether they\u2019re talking to a spouse or a family member or friend or employer, how can they share their journey in a way where they don\u2019t feel judged?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The Veteran Experiential Writing Program (VEWP) is a trauma-informed, culturally responsive initiative designed to support veterans and their caregivers in processing life experiences, building resilience, and fostering connection through guided creative writing. VEWP integrates narrative principles with structured writing instruction to offer a transformative experience for participants. Learn more at <a href=\"https:\/\/rehab.chp.vcu.edu\/about-us\/research\/vewp\/\">rehab.chp.vcu.edu\/about-us\/research\/vewp<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sub><sup><em>Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@othentikisra?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">israel palacio<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/gray-and-brown-camouflage-nutshell-helmet-on-table-IprD0z0zqss?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Unsplash<\/a>.<\/em><\/sup><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For more than 10 years, David L. Robbins has been helping veterans process their experiences in the military through writing as part of the Virginia War Memorial\u2019s Mighty Pen Project. It\u2019s not an uncommon strategy. Narrative therapy and writing exposure therapy have long been used to help people break down past traumas and heal by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":72,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":69,"date":"2025-10-27T19:27:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=69"},"modified":"2025-10-27T19:27:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:27:50","slug":"im-supposed-to-be-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2025\/10\/27\/im-supposed-to-be-here\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m supposed to be here\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As a teenager, Azeem Majeed received two life sentences without parole. He entered prison with no hope of ever coming out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Majeed was impacted by alcohol addiction\u2014a major factor that led to the crimes he was convicted of as a minor\u2014and struggled with gambling. But his incarceration became his first step on a path to recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I entered into recovery, I stopped everything\u2014I stopped drinking, I stopped smoking,\u201d he says. \u201cAfter hitting rock bottom and losing everything, I was left to deal with myself in a sober state. I knew that I deserved better than what the life of addiction gave me, so, I chose the life of recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This September Majeed celebrated the four-year anniversary of his release after serving 26 years. Majeed was the first Virginian to be resentenced after the Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences for minors were unconstitutional. After a subsequent parole hearing, he was granted release at age 43.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since his re-entry, Majeed has continued to help others in their recovery with a particular focus on the corrections community. He supports other formerly incarcerated people as they transition back into the community and frequently presents on his experience. He recently spoke at the 5th Annual Returning Citizens Booster Luncheon hosted by the League for Safer Streets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Majeed also became a certified peer recovery specialist and is the lead CPRS for the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health. In addition, he\u2019s a trainer for various CPRS endorsement credentials, a Certified Recovery Support Supervisor, an International Gambling Recovery Specialist, and an adult mental health first aid trainer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This fall, he is piloting a training to help his colleagues educate corrections staff and support incarcerated people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor so long, people who are incarcerated and have a gambling addiction can catch an institutional infraction. They are penalized for their gambling,\u201d he says. \u201cWe want to bring awareness so incarcerated people can seek treatment, while they\u2019re in or when they leave. There are a lot of crimes that are motivated by gambling. If they haven\u2019t received treatment for their gambling addiction, it can lead to increased recidivism. We\u2019re trying to stop that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, Majeed talks about his own story of recovery and why he\u2019s making it his life\u2019s work to help others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What were some of the biggest factors in your recovery?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest impacts was losing everything\u2014my mother, my freedom, just the normal life opportunities that a child goes through. I knew that I deserved better than what the life of addiction gave me. I chose to drink, I chose to gamble, but I didn&#8217;t choose to be addicted to drinking or gambling. But recovery is something that I chose, and when I realized that I had the power to choose that path, I started walking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second thing is that along my journey of recovery, I had people who believed in me. I knew that I deserved more than this, but I didn&#8217;t arrive at that understanding on my own. That true belief came from people outside of me pouring into me and saying, \u201cYou are valuable. You are more than this.\u201d I started living by this principle, \u201cNever accept anything that you deem yourself unworthy of receiving,\u201d and I knew that I was worthy of receiving a life of recovery and everything that came along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When you meet someone who\u2019s just beginning to reach out for help, how do you connect with them in that first moment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to be heard, you must first listen. It doesn\u2019t matter what level they&#8217;re at in their recovery journey\u2014wherever they&#8217;re at, I meet them there. I listen and I receive. And when the opportunity presents itself, I let them know that I\u2019m just like them. I talk to them about the power of choosing their narrative, the type of story that they want to have. I explain that they can have a story of addiction or a story of recovery, and that\u2019s a choice that no one can make but them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What led you to work in peer recovery?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I actually started while I was incarcerated, about six or seven years in. But when I started, I struggled to reveal that part of myself. Talking about what I struggled with coming up, my addiction, I felt like it made me less than or too vulnerable. I didn&#8217;t interpret vulnerability as a power or freedom. But at some point, I told someone my story and I saw how medicinal it was to them and how healing it was for me to utilize the very thing that caused me the most pain to bring about hope and healing for other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why is that always something that I guess you felt called to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[I like to say] I\u2019m not supposed to be here, but I\u2019m supposed to be here. I had a sentence that took away my hope. But I made a vow when I entered the Department of Corrections that if I was ever given my first opportunity to be free out in society as an adult, that I would spend the rest of my life giving back to my community, just like the people who believed in me when I was at my lowest point. When someone reaches out, I try to be for them exactly what I needed when I was in that space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a teenager, Azeem Majeed received two life sentences without parole. He entered prison with no hope of ever coming out. Majeed was impacted by alcohol addiction\u2014a major factor that led to the crimes he was convicted of as a minor\u2014and struggled with gambling. But his incarceration became his first step on a path to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":70,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":63,"date":"2025-07-31T17:54:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=63"},"modified":"2025-08-05T17:48:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T17:48:21","slug":"vpgh-helps-support-seekers-tap-into-a-statewide-network-of-care-providers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2025\/07\/31\/vpgh-helps-support-seekers-tap-into-a-statewide-network-of-care-providers\/","title":{"rendered":"VPGH helps support seekers tap into a statewide network of care providers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Once a support seeker connects with the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health\u2014whether by calling the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline or through our referral form\u2014they\u2019ll have access to our statewide network of 107 clinicians and five recovery organizations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VPGH is a state-funded effort to increase the number of providers who are trained to work with gambling disorders and problem gambling. When a provider joins our network, they receive a two-part, gambling-specific training and have ongoing opportunities to continue their education. Monthly consultation meetings also offer an opportunity to connect with other providers and talk about best practices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VPGH also covers the cost of the initial assessment with a network provider, regardless of the support seeker\u2019s insurance status. If they continue to seek treatment, VPGH can help offset or fully cover the costs, depending on insurance coverage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGambling has increased dramatically in recent years. Today, as much as 4% of the U.S. population has a mild to severe gambling problem,\u201d said Jennifer Davis-Walton, Director of Gambling Services at VPGH. \u201cThis rapid growth has left many Virginians struggling and seeking support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThrough our provider network, we\u2019re expanding the number of trained clinicians to ensure Virginians have access to the care they need at every step of their recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, two of our providers share what brought them to the VPGH network and what they love about their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:24% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/TammyMuir-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/TammyMuir-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/TammyMuir-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/TammyMuir-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/TammyMuir-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/TammyMuir.jpeg 1133w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tammy Muir, LPC<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For nearly 30 years, Tammy Muir worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the state of Virginia, helping people with disabilities go to work. She became a certified rehabilitation counselor in 2001 and a licensed professional counselor in 2004. Muir joined the VPGH network when it launched four years ago and serves clients across the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>In her words<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was born into a generation of gamblers. Growing up, it was the only recreational activity I saw my family consistently participate in. The VPGH training helped me better understand the depth of suffering and how to use different approaches based on an individual\u2019s needs and their pathway to developing this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It helped me understand the importance of meeting people where they are, of educating them and giving them hope, of helping them understand that it is a disorder and they\u2019re not alone. I think it\u2019s comforting to help them understand that it\u2019s not a moral failure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have to say, it\u2019s the most rewarding work I\u2019ve ever done. I didn\u2019t know that, especially at this point in my career, I\u2019d find such joy and discover something so fulfilling and exciting and motivating. I just want to learn more and help more people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:24% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/BrittanyKark.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/BrittanyKark.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/BrittanyKark-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1366\/2025\/07\/BrittanyKark-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brittany&nbsp;Kark, MA, LPC<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Brittany Kark came to counseling indirectly through her passion for law. A certified paralegal, Kark worked in law firms and with drug courts before transitioning to crisis stabilization, where she redefined what it meant to help people. Kark became a licensed professional counselor in late 2024 and has since opened her own practice, <a href=\"https:\/\/theraluma.org\/\">Theraluma<\/a>, in Christiansburg. Her focus areas include PTSD and trauma, addiction, depression and anxiety, and impulse control. She has been with the VPGH network for four years and leads a twice monthly group with <a href=\"https:\/\/vpgh.vcu.edu\/about-us\/cochran-lisa.html\">Lisa Cochran<\/a>, a certified peer recovery specialist with VPGH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>In her words&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a personal level, I didn\u2019t shy away from working with VPGH because of my own recovery journey. I continue to go through that recovery for substance use and I struggled with payday loans. I come from a place of understanding, and I empathize with a lot of my clients.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve learned a lot, not just from the VPGH trainings, but from my peers and other providers in the monthly consultations. It\u2019s rare in other programs and nonprofits that I\u2019ve worked with, and it\u2019s invaluable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I also really appreciate the community when it comes to care coordination. If I have a client that\u2019s also working with a peer support specialist, it\u2019s great to be able to quickly connect about resources and schedule appointments. Gambling has such a high suicide risk, but we have a lot of people who recognize the urgency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sup><sub><em>Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@youssefnaddam?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\">youssef naddam<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/two-persons-arms-iJ2IG8ckCpA?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\">Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/sub><\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once a support seeker connects with the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health\u2014whether by calling the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline or through our referral form\u2014they\u2019ll have access to our statewide network of 107 clinicians and five recovery organizations.&nbsp; VPGH is a state-funded effort to increase the number of providers who are trained to work with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":66,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":61,"date":"2025-07-31T17:41:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/?p=61"},"modified":"2025-07-31T17:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:48:00","slug":"in-journal-article-vpgh-staff-argue-for-inclusion-of-gambling-disorder-in-the-ada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/2025\/07\/31\/in-journal-article-vpgh-staff-argue-for-inclusion-of-gambling-disorder-in-the-ada\/","title":{"rendered":"In journal article, VPGH staff argue for inclusion of gambling disorder in the ADA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the popularity of gambling grows\u2014thanks to increased legalization, the integration of the gaming industry and U.S., sports culture, and easily accessible online gambling platforms\u2014so does the number of people in need of help for problem gambling.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, many support seekers discover unexpected barriers to accessing the care and treatment they need, often due to restrictions in the American with Disability Act (ADA). The ADA passed in 1990 to expand protections for people with disabilities in both the government and private sectors. Its applications range from providing federal funding for treatment programs to ensuring job protection for an individual who needs time off from work for group meetings or an intensive outpatient program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recent article for the Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, several researchers and clinicians argue that the ADA should be amended to include gambling disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The authors of \u201cWhen Addiction Is Not a Disability: The Exclusion of Individuals With a Gambling Disorder as a Protected Class,\u201d include Carolyn Hawley, Ph.D., director of Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, and Jennifer Davis-Walton, VPGH\u2019s director of gambling. Other authors include Amy J. Armstrong, Ph.D., and Wyatt Aldrich from the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University and Kathleen Marie Oertle, Ph.D., from Utah State University\u2019s Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The article notes that the American Psychological Association and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual fifth edition (DSM-V) both recognize gambling disorder as a behavioral addiction with similarities to substance use disorders. \u201cCompulsive gambling,\u201d however, is specifically excluded from the ADA as a qualifying disability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt the time [the ADA was passed], it was considered an impulse control disorder\u2014not an addiction like it is now,\u201d said Hawley. \u201cWe didn&#8217;t have the level of understanding we do now, about the neurobiology of addiction and gambling. The senators saw gambling and things like kleptomania and pyromania as activities that were considered illegal and or morally repugnant. There was a stigma that it was really a moral issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Davis-Walton said the exclusion directly impacts support seekers in a variety of ways. They may be required to have a diagnosis for a co-occurring mental health or substance use issue in order to be accepted into a treatment program or receive insurance coverage. In some states, peer recovery specialists can\u2019t get certified because their own gambling disorder isn\u2019t recognized. And while specialized drug courts divert people from the criminal justice system to drug treatment and rehabilitation services, the same programs aren\u2019t available for those with gambling disorders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAn employer can fire and file charges against someone who embezzled money because of a gambling disorder,\u201d Davis-Walton said. \u201cBut if they admit to an alcohol or substance use problem, then they get treatment.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawley added that revising the ADA could also go a long way towards reducing the stigma around gambling disorders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe ADA allows people to ask for accommodations, such as taking time off for an inpatient treatment program or meeting with a provider,\u201d Hawley said. \u201cBy excluding gambling disorders from the ADA, it\u2019s saying, \u2018You don\u2019t deserve that help.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople internalize that and it\u2019s probably why we see such low rates of treatment-seeking for this population. Removing that exclusion reduces that stigma and encourages people to seek help and support\u2014and allows them to do so.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sub><sup><em>Photo by <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@quasichiara?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\"><em>Chiara F<\/em><\/a><em> on <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/shallow-focus-photography-of-green-pink-and-orange-bookmarks-MI8He1NWPWg?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\"><em>Unsplash<\/em><\/a><br><\/sup><\/sub><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the popularity of gambling grows\u2014thanks to increased legalization, the integration of the gaming industry and U.S., sports culture, and easily accessible online gambling platforms\u2014so does the number of people in need of help for problem gambling.&nbsp; However, many support seekers discover unexpected barriers to accessing the care and treatment they need, often due to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":62,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/vpgh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]