National Gambling Task Force Focuses On College Students

Alcohol and drug abuse is one of the main concerns for parents when they send their children off to college. A national task force, however, is warning these parents and the rest of the country that gambling should be treated in the same preventative manner as alcohol and drugs.

Gambling options have increased drastically over the past couple of years for college student. The game of poker has become somewhat of a college phenomenon, and casinos are popping up in almost every state in the US.

The Task Force on College Gambling Policies believes that gambling should be treated as a health issue. Their latest report claims that policies need to be in place at campuses across the nation and that treatment programs should be available for gambling addictions.

"If a student presents himself to a university health service with a physical problem such as kidney disease or a fractured hip, the college will bend over backward to assist the student," said task force chairman, Peter Emerson, "Addiction is in a different category."

Universities currently have clear laws prohibiting the use of alcohol and drugs. The task force has recommended that the colleges do the same for gambling. They also are calling for universities to include gambling when they campaign against drugs and alcohol.

Treatment of gambling addiction seems to be high on the list of many people these days, not just the task force. The state of Arkansas began offering lottery gambling on Monday, and they have already started to develop strategies to help curb problem gambling.

September 29, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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