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CLEAR Temp: 55 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, October 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 4, 2003 A customer at a local tavern tries his luck at a video poker machine. Those who are addicted to gambling may not know there�s help available locally, say county officials who have been forced to cut back on outreach efforts. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Hooked on chance The number of players seeking treatment has fallen by 40 percent in Jackson County By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Far fewer problem gamblers are seeking help in Jackson County this year, even as enrollment in treatment programs across Oregon grows. Local public health officials and addiction specialists are blaming budget cuts and the loss of a gambling outreach worker for the decline. "People don’t know that gambling services are free and available here," said Rita Sullivan, director of OnTrack, a Medford treatment agency. "We knew it was a vital part of the program, promoting it." Advertisement In the first six months of 2003, the number of local gamblers seeking treatment fell by nearly 40 percent, said Jeffrey Marotta, the state’s gambling services manager. "There’s a sharp decline," he said. "I saw it as troublesome." Between January and June, only 14 local gamblers signed up for services. In each of the three previous six-month periods, an average of 38 gamblers sought help in Jackson County. That’s particularly disturbing because Jackson County was lauded as a statewide model for treatment little more than a year ago. Over the past two years, 128 gamblers received treatment in Jackson County. "We certainly got off to a good start," said Ed Burns, program director for the Addictions Recovery Center in Medford. Statewide, enrollment in gambling treatment programs increased by 48 percent — more than 1,100 people — during the past biennium. Overall, Oregon has the nation’s highest recorded rate of people seeking gambling treatment, Marotta said. The recent local drop can be blamed in part on state budget shortfalls that cut funds for gambling outreach. A staff member who posted treatment information near video poker machines, educated store owners and spoke to public groups was forced to take another job, said Hank Collins, county health director. "When we gave him the time, we saw the numbers rise," Collins said. In addition, OnTrack and the ARC, the two agencies that collaborated to offer treatment, saw their state funding shrink even as demand for services rose. "The staff is crunched," Burns said. "It’s priorities." Uncertainty over the fate of state lottery funds, which pay for gambling treatment, forced elimination of the post. About $5.6 million is allocated to the state Department of Human Services for gambling treatment and prevention in the 2003-2005 budget. That’s down about $1.4 million from the previous biennium. An estimated 3 percent of the general adult population suffers from problem gambling, Marotta said. In Jackson County, that’s about 4,300 people. For each gambler, experts estimate that 11 people are affected by the personal and financial effects of the addiction: spouses, children, parents, friends. Problem gambling is misunderstood, treatment specialists said. Three-quarters of problem gamblers are not high rollers; they’re hooked on video poker machines. Les Couch, the former outreach worker, said he spent a lot of time visiting bars and businesses that house the machines, making sure that gamblers had access to toll-free treatment numbers and informational brochures. "It’s a real sad addiction," said Couch, who is now working as a county animal control officer. "Even during the day, a lot of those video poker machines were full. It’s a lot worse problem than people think." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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