Staying Well

A whopping 88 percent of U.S. adults have gambled at some point in their life; but when does it turn into a problem?According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately three million American adults have a gambling addiction. Damon Dye, EdD, sheds some light on what gambling addiction really is and what you can do to help yourself or a loved one who’s addicted. A gambling addiction is similar to drug or alcohol addiction, because biochemical changes happen in the brain that make it nearly impossible for the addict to control or modify their behavior. Damon Dye, a licensed mental health professional and a National Board Approved Clinical Consultant for the National Council on Problem Gambling, estimates that a gambling addiction affects around three percent of the population. Between 95 and 97 percent of people can gamble without becoming addicted.Casual vs. ProblematicSo, how can you tell when your gambling habits have crossed from recreational to addictive? Most gambling is done socially, so