Problem Gambling Can Begin
in Teen Years
"Approximately 4 - 5% of youth, ages 12-17, meet one or more criteria of having a gambling problem. Another 10-14% are at risk of developing an addiction, which means that they already show signs of losing control over their gambling behavior." -- National Council on Problem Gambling

Fast Facts: Youth Gambling
  • 60-80% of high school students report having gambled for money during the past year; 4-6% of these students are considered pathological gamblers (addicted to gambling) while another 6-8% are at risk of developing a serious gambling problem. (source)
  • Over 10% of teens gamble twice a week or more often. (source)
  • About 4% of boys aged 14-21 have a gambling problem. (source)
  • Youth who gamble are 2 times more likely to binge drink. (source)
  • 10% of college students have gambling problems; rates of gambling problems are higher in college students than adults. (source)

Download facts sheets on Youth Problem Gambling and College Problem Gambling from Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling.

How Seemingly Innocent Games Can Lead to Problem Gambling
Kids are introduced to gambling in innocent ways. They may see their parents participating in a sports pool or buying a lottery ticket. Another way is playing games on mobile apps or computers. Candy Crush, a popular mobile app, simulates gambling. It has bright colors, cheerful sounds and even a wheel of fortune style wheel that gives players a chance to win extra moves or other bonuses. Although the game is free to download, you can pay for upgrades and get more features or bonuses. Candy Crush is a game of luck and uses the same tactic that slot machines do; you are encouraged to keep playing because you never know when you will win. This simulated gambling behavior is a risk factor for developing problem gambling, especially when kids begin playing at a young age.

Gambling Can Lead to Other Problems:
  • Feelings of guilt, stress, worry, or sadness.
  • Loss of friendships.
  • Low grades in school.
  • Alcohol and drug use.
  • Legal difficulties.
  • Suicidal ideation. Up to 25% of youth with gambling problems attempt suicide. 

Social Gambling vs. Pathological Gambling
It's important for parents to explain the difference to kids. Below are descriptions from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Characteristics of social gambling include:
  • Playing with a set amount of money and ending when it's gone
  • Playing for fun, not just to win money
  • No high-stakes games with large pots
  • Limit games to once or twice a week and only with friends.

Some signs of a pathological teen gambler include:
  • Likes the rush felt when gambling.
  • Takes money, but then makes desperate attempts to stay in the game by writing IOUs.
  • Will try almost anything to stay in the game.
  • Really wants to win "the big one," but will keep playing even when losing a great deal. 
  • Plays online and has no qualms about using a credit card to gamble

Treatment is Effective
If you are looking for treatment locally, here are are three options:

Locations in Norwalk, Stamford, and Bridgeport.
203.866.2541, extension #3005

Location in Westport
203.227.7644

Location in Bridgeport
203.366.5817

Events at a Glance
The Changing Face of Mental Health First Aid: The Why and How of Virtual Mental Health
First Aid 2.0
This event is open to CT Mental Health First Aid instructors only.
March 25th, 1 - 3 PM


Supervision as Co-vision: A Multidimensional Framework for Cultural and Social Equity in Psychotherapy and Supervision
March 25th, 1 PM


Gaming and Gambling Prevention 101
March 25th, 6 -7 PM


Day in the Life of a Macro Practitioner
March 26th, 2:30 - 4 PM


Has Gaming Taken Over?
March 31st, 7 - 8 PM

Understanding the Impact of the Pandemic on Alcohol Use
April 15th, 2 - 3 PM
NEW DATES/TIMES
Narcan Training from
The Hub on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday monthly!


Narcan Training from Liberation Programs Every Thursday, 11 AM - 12 PM
Support Groups

NEW: Beginning March 24
Family Forum Support Group
CCAR All Recovery Meetings

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Recovery Community Listening Session CT - April 20th

This Recovery Community Listening Session hosted by Recovery Advocacy Project - Connecticut will be a guided conversation with people in recovery from all pathways, family members, supporters & allies of recovery. Your voice is important and needed.

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Job Opportunities
Positive Directions is seeking to fill the following positions to provide counseling services in a growing and supportive outpatient environment:

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Full Time

Outpatient Therapist - Licensed Clinician (LCSW, LADC, LPC, LMFT) 
In the News
Melissa Bernstein, Co-Founder of Connecticut-Based Toy Company, Melissa & Doug, Shares Lifelong Struggle with Mental Illness

From the outside, Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of Melissa & Doug with her husband, looks like the picture of success. She heads a beloved toy company based in Connecticut, has a supportive and loving husband and six children.

At the same time, Bernstein was struggling with her mental health, mostly in secret. In her new memoir, "LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light," she shares her lifelong experiences with “existential depression,” starting therapy and wanting to help others.

“Everybody believed that I had it all in the conventional, societal sense of success and that meant I was perfect. I have spent 50 years trying to live up to that model of perfection and failing,” she told TODAY. “The book was my bid to say this is who I am because I had hidden myself in the shadows for my whole life.”
How COVID-19 Will Change Mental Health Care In The Future

There won’t be a ton of great outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the millions of people who’ve gotten sick and the hundreds of thousands who’ve died, the entire population has been thrust into a mental health crisis that may take years for us to overcome.

That said, the increased mental health awareness that has developed during the COVID-19 pandemic may also propel us into a more positive future when it comes to therapy and how we view emotional struggles — that is, if we recognize what we can gain from this horrific year and fight for the few positive things that are developing as a result.

Here are just a few ways the coronavirus pandemic will transform the way we treat mental health in the future:

Conversations around mental health are becoming more normalized.
We’ve come a long way over the last few years in terms of reducing the stigma around mental health. However, we’re still nowhere close to where we should be. The pandemic has drastically affected our emotional well-being in numerous ways.
The Hub: Behavioral Health Action Organization for Southwestern CT
A division of the Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership (RYASAP) 
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