DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Rochester Area (NCADD-RA) is partnering with the New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) to carry-out the YOU(th) Decide project in Monroe County. This marks the seventh year that the NYCPG has worked with local providers in an effort to prevent underage and problem gambling. The NCADD-RA has been a part of the project since its inception.
The YOU(th) Decide Project and NCADD-RA are continuing to raise awareness of the negative effects of problem gambling and what information and help is available. The most recent research indicates that among New York State that 39 percent of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 have gambled in the past year. Nearly 30 percent of those youth stated that they began at age 10 or younger. (OASAS, 2014-15) Underage gambling brings with it a number of negative consequences, many of which are serious, and can be devastating to the youth as well as his/her family and friends.
The younger an adolescent begins gambling, the more likely he/she is to develop a gambling addiction. Underage gamblers are at an increased risk of delinquency and crime, damaged relationships and poor academic performance (Wynne et al., 1996). Youth who gamble are also more likely than their non-gambling peers to develop mental health issues including depression and alcohol/substance abuse disorders (Hardoon et al, 2002), to attempt suicide (Gupta and Derevensky, 1998), and to maintain poor general health (Potenza et al, 2002).
YOU(th) Decide is designed to be a multi-dimensional prevention effort aimed at reducing underage gambling. Local providers participating in the YOU(th) Decide Project will educate youth, work with local community leaders to decrease youth availability to gambling activities and will conduct media and outreach campaigns.
If you, your school or your child, would like more information about or to get involved with YOU(th) Decide, contact Jennifer Faringer, Director of NCADD-RA at jfaringer@depaul.org or call (585) 719-3480.
Find out more about our local efforts at https://ncadd-ra.org/awareness-campaigns/underage-gambling. To learn more about statewide efforts, visit YOUthDecideNY.org.
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