``Problem Gambling Awareness Week'' Proclaimed for March 6-12, 2006; The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) Rolls Out Campaign to Stir State Support of Clinical Treatment.ALTAMONTE SPRINGS Al·ta·monte Springs A city of east-central Florida, a residential suburb of Orlando. Population: 40,900. , Fla. -- The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling compulsive gambling or pathological gambling, a psychological disorder characterized by a persistent inability to resist the impulse to gamble. (FCCG FCCG Fuel Cell Commercialization Group FCCG Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc. ) today announced that Florida Governor Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11, 1953) is an American politician, and was the 43rd Governor of Florida as well as the first Republican to be re-elected to that office. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the younger brother of current President George W. has proclaimed March 6-12, 2006, as "Problem Gambling Problem gambling is an urge to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. The term is preferred to compulsive gambling among many professionals, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Awareness Week." FCCG is participating with the National Council on Problem Gambling The National Council on Problem Gambling (Abbreviation: NCPG) was set up in Singapore on 31 August 2005 to address problem gambling, following the government's decision to legalise casino gambling and build two integrated resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa. (NCPG NCPG National Committee on Planned Giving NCPG National Council on Problem Gambling, Inc. (Washington, DC) NCPG Nevada Council on Problem Gambling (Las Vegas, Nevada) ), and 35 other state affiliate councils, to increase awareness of the serious consequences of problem gambling for the individual, the family and the community. With the opening of the Florida legislative session, the FCCG will be advocating for legislation supporting gambling addiction treatment, complementing funds from the state for prevention, education, outreach, research and HelpLine referrals. Unlike alcohol and substance abuse treatment, there is no state allocation for clinical treatment of compulsive gamblers. "The gap in dollars to support clinical treatment of compulsive gamblers is magnified by the financial devastation caused by the gambling problem itself," said Pat Fowler, Executive Director of the FCCG. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the American Psychiatric Association The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential world-wide. Its some 148,000 members are mainly American but some are international. , pathological gambling is a treatable, mental-health disorder. Much like alcohol and drug abuse, the profound need for clinical treatment services is underscored by key Florida statistics and trends: --Over 1 million Floridians have at one time experienced problem gambling. --The occurrence of problem and pathological gambling among adults and adolescent Floridians is more than twice that of the national average. --Problem gambling's negative and costly socio-economic impacts to the state include exacerbating unemployment, alcohol and drug dependence, domestic abuse and crime. For example, over one-third of problem gamblers ultimately commit illegal acts. --Associated with the dramatic increase of gambling activity in Florida, the incidence of problem gamblers is expected to increase substantially. Throughout Problem Gambling Week, FCCG is sponsoring a host of educational and awareness programs about problem gambling in Florida with presentations and exhibits taking place in Tallahassee, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. In addition, FCCG is sponsoring a state-wide high school essay contest titled "How Gambling on Television Has Affected my Life" because researchers have found that the more exposure a child has to gambling, the more likely he or she will become a compulsive gambler -- as a teen and into adulthood. For more information or help with a gambling problem, please contact the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling at 888-ADMIT-IT or visit http://www.gamblinghelp.org . About the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc. (FCCG) is a not-for-profit 501c(3) educational and advocacy organization whose primary mission is to help persons adversely affected by problem and compulsive gambling. Established in 1988, the FCCG is a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling and maintains a neutral stance on the issue of legalized gambling. The FCCG is funded by the State of Florida and receives additional support from membership dues, training fees and donations. |
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