{"id":9059,"date":"2021-05-11T08:55:04","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T12:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncpgambling.org\/?p=9059"},"modified":"2024-01-19T18:00:23","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T23:00:23","slug":"ncpg-statement-on-making-problem-gambling-assistance-reach-every-community-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncpgambling.org\/news\/ncpg-statement-on-making-problem-gambling-assistance-reach-every-community-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"NCPG Statement on Making Problem Gambling Assistance Reach Every Community in America"},"content":{"rendered":"
Recent Progress in Racial Justice Highlights Need to Bring That Mindset to All Aspects of Society<\/em><\/p>\n Washington, DC<\/span><\/b>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) in conjunction with\u00a0<\/span>their\u00a0<\/span>Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI)<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0issue<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0the following statement<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Over the past month, we\u2019ve have seen\u00a0<\/span>signs of\u00a0<\/span>progress in the fight for\u00a0<\/span>justice play out before our eyes<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>two instances<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Former Minneapolis police officer\u00a0<\/span>Derek Chauvin\u00a0<\/span>was found guilty in the murder\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>George Floyd<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Long before the case went to trial<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0federal legislation was introduced called\u00a0<\/span>The George Floyd\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Justice\u00a0<\/span><\/i>In<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Policing Act<\/span><\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>wh<\/span>i<\/span>c<\/span>h<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>aims to combat police misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in policing<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Asian Americans have experienced an onslaught of derogatory statements and acts of violence because some people have\u00a0<\/span>believed the\u00a0<\/span>rhetoric\u00a0<\/span>surrounding the<\/span>\u00a0geographic<\/span>\u00a0origin of the virus<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>In response\u00a0<\/span>The<\/span><\/i>\u00a0COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>became the law of the land<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Whether in the judicial or legislative branches of government<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>progress\u00a0<\/span>toward justice is\u00a0<\/span>being made.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>The purpose\u202fof\u202fNCPG\u202fis to\u202fserve as the national advocate for programs and services to assist people and families affected by problem gambling\u202fand to\u202fimprove health and wellness by reducing\u00a0<\/span>its<\/span>\u00a0personal,\u202fsocial,\u202fand economic costs.\u202fIts\u202fmission\u202fis to lead state and national stakeholders in the development of comprehensive policy and programs for those affected by problem gambling.\u202fThe DEI Committee advises NCPG on issues affecting<\/span>\u00a0communities of color and other marginalized groups to\u202fensure\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>the organization\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>working to make<\/span>\u00a0effective and accessible help for problem gambling\u00a0<\/span>available to everyone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe enactment of properly funded federal legislation to <\/span>address problem<\/span>\u00a0gambling would be the most effective way to help limit the suffering of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>approximately\u00a0<\/span>six million Americans\u00a0<\/span>with this disorder<\/span>, which\u00a0<\/span>also impact<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0their\u00a0<\/span>loved\u00a0<\/span>ones<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>That is why\u00a0<\/span>NCPG<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u202fits state affiliate chapters\u00a0<\/span>work to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>raise<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>public<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>awareness\u00a0<\/span>about<\/span>\u00a0problem gambling, and advocate for<\/span>\u00a0funding for services as well as<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>responsible gambling\u00a0<\/span>regulations<\/span>.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Some\u00a0<\/span>America<\/span>ns<\/span>\u00a0continue<\/span>\u00a0to struggle to fully comprehend\u00a0<\/span>how cultural and historical experiences can shape the identity of different racial and ethni<\/span>c groups<\/span>. The lack of understanding often shows up in health care<\/span>, but w<\/span>ork is\u00a0<\/span>being\u00a0<\/span>done\u00a0<\/span>to bridge these gaps<\/span>. That includes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>introducing\u00a0<\/span>legislative solutions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>the loca<\/span>l<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>state<\/span>\u00a0and federal level<\/span>s to<\/span>\u00a0provide\u00a0<\/span>support,\u202ftreatment,\u202fand hope\u202ffor those\u202fwho\u202fsuffer with\u00a0<\/span>mental health challenges like gambling addiction<\/span>. However, we know that\u00a0<\/span>much<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>more can be done<\/span>\u00a0to help people and communities of color<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Many\u00a0<\/span>people think that\u00a0<\/span>individuals\u00a0<\/span>with addictions should just stop and not do it anymore<\/span>.<\/span>\u202fThey feel it is a moral<\/span>\u00a0failing or lack of willpower –\u00a0<\/span>not a treatable disease<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Gambling addiction is a\u00a0<\/span>hidden<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>addiction<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>never<\/span>theless\u00a0<\/span>demands attention<\/span>. You\u00a0<\/span>can\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0screen for it with a blood test<\/span>, but\u00a0<\/span>the psychological burdens are profound. For example,\u00a0<\/span>one<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>five<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people who\u00a0<\/span>have severe gambling problems<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>attempt\u00a0<\/span>suicide.\u202fIntergenerational trauma, abuse,\u202fand\u202f<\/span>other personal aspects of\u00a0<\/span>being different\u202ffeed into one another and can\u00a0<\/span>p<\/span>erpetuate\u202faddiction.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>It is time for all of us to treat people as individuals.\u202fIf a person struggles with an\u202faddiction,\u202fwe need to ask ourselves,\u00a0<\/span>\u2018<\/span>what happened<\/span>, what\u00a0<\/span>are\u202fthey\u202fstruggling with<\/span>?<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We must work hard to<\/span>\u00a0reach out to other races and ethnicities to\u202flearn about their cultures and find our commonalities<\/span>\u00a0going forward<\/span>.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>If you grew up in the\u00a0<\/span>US<\/span>, you are no doubt<\/span>\u00a0familiar with\u00a0<\/span>this\u00a0<\/span>declaration<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0\u2018<\/span>I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all<\/span>.<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We must, as a nation, make our actions\u00a0<\/span>embody\u00a0<\/span>these words \u2013\u00a0<\/span>make them perm<\/span>eate\u00a0<\/span>how we think about the multitude of challenges we face as a nation. If you treat others as you would want to be treated<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0we are likely to\u00a0<\/span>achieve<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>better results<\/span>, including that vision of liberty and justice for all<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n About the National Council on Problem Gambling<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Based in Washington DC, the National Council on Problem Gambling<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>the only national nonprofit organization that seeks to minimize the economic and social costs associated with gambling addiction by working with\u00a0<\/span>all\u00a0<\/span>