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Only if the observant parent, husband or
wife, relative or employer recognizes that a
loved and valued person is suffering from a
disease for which he is no more responsible than
one who is congenitally blind. Indeed, the very
nature of the disease is a kind of blindness
which prevents the gambler from seeing his
actions as pathological symptoms. For this
reason, few compulsive gamblers can re cover
without the help of others. The gambler must be
motivated in every way possible to realize the
seriousness of the disease in order to seek
help. There is no doubt that compulsive gambling
can be treated.
Thousands of sick compulsive gamblers still
languish in prisons and mental hospitals. And
millions of compulsive or potential compulsives
are on the street, in the office, at the
racetrack, in the church or synagogue- sponsored
bingo or poker game, disrupting families,
creating social havoc.
They suffer from an illness that is still
largely unrecognized, untreated and hence,
reaching the proportions of an epidemic.
Yet, thousands of compulsives have stopped
gambling and have rebuilt their
once-catastrophic and tragic lives. Often, the
recovered gambler will discover a deeper meaning
to his or her life and to the renewed relation
ships with family, colleagues and friends.
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey
Inc., aims to reduce and prevent this insidious
disease by mobilizing public support through
public information and education, and through
interaction with professional groups concerned
with the growing impact of pathological
gambling.
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