May 24, 2012
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The people most likely to become addicted to gambling are those between 18 and 24 years old, the same age group that is used to communicating on the computer.
That is why the Problem Gambler's Help Network of West Virginia has launched a site that allows people who want help the chance to chat about it online.
Sheila Moran is one of the program's counselors.
"We found we weren't getting very many calls from young people," she said. "We thought this would be another route for young people to contact us, hoping we can get them on the phone."
Getting them on the phone later is the ultimate goal, but getting people just to start the conversation about making a change in their lives is paramount.
"It's well known you are more prone to say things through e-mail than you are in person," says Steve Burton, director of the Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia. "They don't feel like they are being judged. That's really important for an addict or for the loved one of an addict."
Click on the link below to connect to the chat. You also can still call the hotline if you think you or someone you know has a problem. That number is 1-800-GAMBLER.
According go the Problem Gambler Network, it's estimated between 54,000 to 72,000 West Virginians have some kind of gambling problem.
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