March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and our Gambling Treatment and Prevention teams have been very busy. Eight staff members attended this year’s Ohio Problem Gambling Conference including retired program director @Marilyn Rule, who received the Honor Roll award for her many years of service in gambling treatment.
Megan Poliquin MA, LPCC, LICDC-GAMB and Steve Kapela packed a meeting room with a presentation on treating families of gamblers. They have been invited to present “2 sides of every story” again at the Michigan Gambling Symposium next month in Novi, Michigan. So exciting!!
Zepf Center even received a very nice shout out from OhioMHAS Director, Lori Criss for maintaining the largest gambling program in the State, and our work creating a series of ads supporting the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline. You may have seen some of that work during the Superbowl half-time show!!
Not to be outdone, The Gambling Prevention department is also setting new standards for excellence with Jeanine Lindquist “Zepf Center Prevention” YouTube page nearing one million views with over 25,000 hours of viewing time. Check out the Mental Health Moments section or learn more about esports, and the gaming, game-bling and gambling promoted within the video games your children and family members are playing.
Kelly Garza who is a force to be reckoned with in the world of prevention, has been selected from over a hundred candidates to present at this year’s National Problem Gambling Conference in Washington, DC. Kelly will be presentation on her PAWS, Pet Assisted Wellness program which promotes healing and wellness in gambling addiction through pet assisted interactions. This program is in high demand and has proven to be both popular and effective. Two more innovative and cutting-edge programs developed at the Zepf Center prevention Dept and spreading across the country.
There has been a massive amount of advertising in Ohio by the sport betting industry. It seems that nearly every commercial and social media ad has something to do with sports betting and gambling. To illustrate the point, in December of 2022 the Ohio Problem gambling helpline fielded around 400 calls for help. At the end of January, with only 30 days of legal sport betting in Ohio. The helpline fielded over 1500 calls for help with problem gambling. You will be seeing a series of posters warning of the “signs” of problem gambling.
If you, a friend, or a family member, would like to discuss a gambling issue, please call 419.841.7701 x6111 for no cost to you, confidential help.
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