Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
THE GOVERNMENT, worried about the negative social consequences of gambling, now says it wants to implement measures to help persons who are addicted to the habit, even as it seeks to maximise returns from the industry.
Senator Burchell Whiteman, Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, told fellow Senators on Friday that addiction to gambling was a threat "to the social order and to family life".
Consideration was, therefore, being given, he said, "to how you deal with those cases that are identified as being in need of attention, in much the same way as you deal with persons who are addicted to alcohol and other legal substances, which are allowed but which present a threat to health."
The issue of gambling addiction was raised by Mr. Whiteman during debate on a Bill amending the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act.
The amendments, he said, were aimed at achieving several objectives controlling the conduct of prize competitions in the print and electronic media; increasing the membership of the Board of the CHASE Fund to a maximum of 12; and increasing the penalties for breaches of the Act, such as illegal gambling activities.
The CHASE Fund was established with the proceeds of the two lottery companies, which goes towards the development of culture, health, arts, sports and early childhood education.
SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF ADDICTION
One well-recognised treatment, according to Dr. Aggrey Irons, clinical psychiatrist, involves primarily behaviour modification and group therapy, along the lines of any addiction programme.
"In fact there is a Gamblers Anonymous operation in Jamaica in the same way that we have Alcoholics Anonymous. But, unlike AA which meets every day throughout the island, Gamblers Anony-mous meets once a week in the Corporate Area and St. James," Dr. Irons told The Sunday Gleaner.
He confirmed that there was significant gambling addiction in Jamaica, "in much the same way that there is addiction to alcohol and other psycho-active substances. Jamaica's demographics have caught up and are entirely in keeping with the First World situation in terms of the incidence of disorders such as heart attacks, strokes, obesity and mental health problems, not the least of which is addiction."
While horse racing and slot machines may be the options most readily available, locally, Dr. Irons said that gamblers who are addicted "will bet on anything, including sporting events and even natural occurrences."
TOURISM LINKS
While recognition is being given to the proliferation of gambling-related activities through the media, Dr. Irons said the link between tourism and gambling also needed to be highlighted.
He argued that this link should be factored into the country's tourism development plans, "Because the demographics show that drugs and addictions including gambling plus the HIV epidemic are concentrated around the Corporate Area and the tourism areas of the island."
Asked to explain the growing attraction of gambling, Dr. Irons said that "as two factors in the society change, the failure to access the economy appropriately and the extravagant lifestyle that is part of urbanisation, then gambling is facilitated."
Dealing with the problem he said "requires not just a warning on a box saying gambling is dangerous for your health, but a very active union with Gamblers Anonymous, which like AA and Narcotics Anonymous are acknowledged as the most successful approaches to dealing with addiction."
