Ill-prepared for gambling problem
Our region is ill-prepared for the increase in problem gamblers that will come with slot machines. The Associated Press reported the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work has surveyed 137 social service agencies that deal with addition-related issues.
The school’s study concluded that 75 percent of these organizations don’t treat problem gamblers and most feel it is not an issue for them to deal with.
Even worse, less than one-third of the agencies said they were familiar with public awareness campaigns on problem gamblers.
Even worse than that, the state plans to spend $1.5 million to address gambling-related disorders, and that’s not enough, according to the study.
Didn’t anybody belong to the Boys Scouts?