Our good friends at the
Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA)
and the
McKinley Park Underage Drinking and other Substances Abuse Coalition (McK-UDOS)
are taking the local lead to deal with issues related to problem gambling and provide support for gambling addiction, including a special program for Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Here's their release about it:
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
CHICAGO (3/4/2022) – Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA), in collaboration with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), dedicates March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). The 2022 campaign theme is “Awareness + Action”. Problem gambling is defined as all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits.Approximately 2 million U.S. adults (1% of the population) are estimated to meet criteria for severe problem gambling. Another 4-6 million (2-3%) meet the criteria for mild or moderate problem gambling.
The hashtag for the campaign this year is #PGAM2022, which participants are encouraged to use on the various social media platforms. PGAM brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including public health organizations, treatment providers, advocacy groups and gambling operators. They work collaboratively to let people know that hope and help exist.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700 or visit
www.ncpg.org/chatfor
confidential help. For more information about problem gambling and how to increase awareness and action on problem gambling, go to
www.ncpgambling.org/pgam
or
weknowthefeeling.org/
. You can visit our website for more information:
maha-us.org/gambling-awareness-program
MAHA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to reduce health disparities for the medically underserved minority populations in the Midwest by implementing community-based health programs including health education, screenings, immunizations, patient care, capacity building, research, and policy advocacy.
About the National Council on Problem Gambling: NCPG is the national advocate for people and families affected by problem gambling. NCPG is neutral on legalized gambling and works with all stakeholders to promote responsible gambling. For information on NCPG’s 35th National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, visit
www.ncpgambling.org/conference
.
About McK-UDOS: Established in 2014, the mission of McKinley Park Underage Drinking and Other Substances Prevention Coalition (McK-UDOS) is to reduce the level of underage drinking and marijuana use among youth in McKinley Park of Chicago through building community partnerships, assessing the community’s needs and resources, developing strategic plans, and implementing and evaluating the coalition’s activities for awareness, advocacy, education, and sustainability.
Contact:
Andrew Piotrowski, Health Programs Manager
(312) 225-8708
andrewpiotrowski@maha-us.org
