New Jersey receives grant-related help
New Jersey residents facing a struggle with gambling addiction now have a new path to hope. For those dealing with mental health or substance use issues, New Jersey will offer $720k in grants to help those also coping with gambling addiction. Recipients of the grants include six organizations around the state, each with the goal of making help readily available for those experiencing problems with online gambling.
we will widen the availability of mental health and substance use disorder providers in the state”
Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said: “More than 90% of individuals with gambling disorders have a co-occurring behavioral health need, and the impact of these challenges affects families, workplaces, and our communities. Through these provider partnerships, we will widen the availability of mental health and substance use disorder providers in the state who also have the expertise to identify and treat gambling disorders.”
The move comes just in time to face the growing gambling behaviors of New Jersey residents. Sports betting experienced a surge across the state after the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018; since then, residents have bet close to $34b.
Gambling specialists hired at each organization
At least one full-time specialist with gambling-specific training will join each grant-receiving organization. State officials said services will include:
- Screenings
- Counseling and therapy designed specifically for gambling addiction
- Existing mental health and substance abuse programs
The state promises that specialists at each of the six grant recipients will also offer individualized services focused on tackling debt, broken relationships, legal problems, and access to community services. The state will bolster efforts to combat gambling problems by “setting up a task force to study the issue and propose stricter limits on certain types of sports bets.”
The prevalence of gambling problems
These gambling problems are not isolated to New Jersey. Gambling addiction has taken over the lives of an increasing amount of men, with one Fairleigh Dickinson University poll finding that 10% of men ages 18 to 30 reported gambling problems, more than three times that of the general population.
the greatest risk factors centering around young men
Out of all gambling-related activities, studies show that sports betting carries unique risks. The nonprofit news organization Stateline reported that sports bettors face higher rates of debt, lower savings, and sometimes bankruptcies. In addition, online betting delivers significant risks. The combination of convenience and heavy advertising makes the activity highly addictive, with the greatest risk factors centering around young men.
Valerie Mielke, deputy commissioner for health services, said: “This is about working more efficiently to reach people struggling with addiction. By integrating gambling disorder services, we hope to bring co-occurring gambling disorder into the mental health and substance use disorder treatment network, so more people can get the services they need to support their recovery.”