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Drawing the Line - a resource for the
prevention of problem gambling, has just arrived
in Nova Scotia's junior and
senior high schools. The new program, pilot
tested by teachers in both rural and urban
schools, is being distributed to Nova Scotia
schools this fall through regional in-service
workshops.
Ninety-six percent of adult Nova Scotians have
gambled for money at some time in their lives.
And so have 68 percent of junior and senior high
school students. Most of this betting is
harmless fun - a challenge to friends, an
evening of entertainment, a chance at a jackpot.
But of every twenty adults who gamble, at least
one has trouble staying in control. Research
indicates that the rate among adolescents is
much higher.
Drawing the Line introduces students to the risk
of gambling through group exercises, games,
class discussions and other activities. Students
explore the nature of risk taking and become
familiar with the signs and stages of problem
gambling. The program is intended to prepare
students to 'draw the line' when confronted with
opportunities to gamble, both now and later in
their adult years.
Packaged as two spiral-bound manuals for junior
and senior high school teachers, Drawing the
Line includes user-friendly information such as
a history of gambling, gambling in Nova Scotia,
the economics of gambling, the effect of problem
gambling on the family, and so on.
Response from teachers who participated in the
pilot project has been enthusiastic. Said one
teacher, "They (the students) loved the
activities, especially The Betting Game. They
also got into heated discussions I think that
some students came from families with gambling
problems, so they paid very close attention. It
really made them think about their own behavior
and where it may lead them."
Another teacher responded that, "The supplement
has helped my students become more aware of the
gambling industry as a whole, its size,
importance in our everyday lives, and possible
changes for the future."
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