Connecticut Town Teaches Kids Realities of Gambling
Addictive gambling has always been a potential problem among teenagers who are not exposed to proper education. Today, with the continued explosion of organized sports and the publication of betting lines in every newspaper, the constant exposure of poker on television, and the proximity of casinos to most areas of the U.S., gambling influences are numerous.
However, one town in Connecticut has realized these things are not bad, as long as children are taught about the potential downside, and educated about the realities of gambling.
Despite studies showing teenagers are more than twice as likely as adults to develop gambling problems, the city of Monroe has found its children have experienced no growth in compulsive gambling.
That's because, since 2000, the town has run the Gambling Awareness of Monroe Through Educating Students Program for high school students. The program is funded by money received from the state lottery.
The program teaches the pitfalls of gambling to excess; while gambling is not seen as evil or wrong, students are taught to be cautious.
A spokesman for the state Department of Mental Health, Susan McLaughlin, said that incidents of teen gambling problems have skyrocketed in other towns, but Monroe has not had nearly the trouble.
Perhaps school systems nationwide could learn something from Monroe's experience. Like any potential addiction, taking away the mystery is a big part of preventing future trouble. School programs exposing students to the realities of wagering are to be lauded, and can easily be financed by the revenues brought in by taxing gambling.
