QC is raising awareness about problem gambling - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

QC is raising awareness about problem gambling

By: Jillian Wilson

jwilson@cbs4qc.com

It's an addiction that experts say goes unnoticed. Problem gambling is a growing in the US and right here in the Quad Cities.

Tomorrow kicks off ‘National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.'

Organizers want to educate the community and teach them that this is a disease.

Counselors say since there is no substance involved, the problem goes unnoticed.

"You can't give them a breathalyzer test. It goes completely undetected. So a lot of the conventional means we have no to detect addiction in conventional ways, we can't do that with gambling," says Nicholas Foss, Supervising Counselor for the Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services in Southeast Iowa.

Counselors say if you think you have a problem call 1 800 BETS OFF for immediate assistance.