| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | Seeking Solace in Gambling
- Wednesday, 11 Jan 2006
Jane, a 48-year-old who lives in northern Michigan lost her mother approximately 20 years ago. Different people choose different ways to help them cope with grief. Jane chose Gambling. Jane found relief in gambling, stopping her from sinking further into depression. Jane played slots for the first time in her life shortly after her mom past away. For the next 20 years, Jane allowed gambling to consume her life, losing tens of thousands of dollars in the process. Jane explains, “Losing $80 was a bad night in the beginning; in the end, I wouldn’t leave until I had lost $4,500 or $5,500”.
According to the estimate of the Michigan Department of Community Health, Jane is one of 200,000 Michigan residents who suffer from a gambling problem. As the number of land based gambling facilities increases, so has the number of people who develop a gambling problem. Bob Baker, an addictions counselor at Munson Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Department said that in Jan’s case, the grief triggered the gambling addiction.
“Grief, like Jane was experiencing, can be a trigger for having it get out of control. So can loneliness, depression or boredom, just like doing drugs, it becomes a kind of escape for any painful emotion”. Some blame casinos for serving as the catalyst for developing a gambling problem. However, there are those who disagree with this claim saying that a gambling problem can occur regardless of the accessibility of casinos.
Laura, another 48 year old woman who leaves in Traverse City also sought solace in gambling. However, she doesn’t blame casinos for causing her gambling problem. Laura explains, “I don’t blame the casinos; they don’t put a gun at your head and tell you to gamble”.
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