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MARCH 2022

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March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month! This year’s campaign theme is “Awareness + Action” and focuses on raising awareness of the risks associated with gambling, such as the risk of addiction. Clinical evidence suggests that problem gambling may result in damaged relationships, financial struggles, increased risk of behavioral health issues such as depression and substance use disorders, and more.

March Madness and Gambling: Have the Conversation with Your Kids

As parents, there are multiple conversations we prepare ourselves to have as our children navigate their adolescent years, such as conversations about relationships of substance misuse. Research shows that parents have the power to make a difference in how their kids respond to risky activities. The increased amount of sports betting surrounding March Madness makes this month a good time to have the conversation about problem gambling with friends, partners, and especially children, according to the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling (MCCG).

Are you concerned about your gambling habits or someone else's? There is hope and help! Check out this link for more tools for quitting gambling or get free and confidential professional support by calling 1-877-MY-LIMIT/877-695-4648 or visit www.opgr.org

Kids' Poisonings Rise as More Parents Bring Pot Edibles Home

Marijuana (cannabis) is now legal for medical or recreational use in many U.S. states. With the changing laws across the nation, the use and availability of food laced with marijuana’s main active ingredient, THC, has increased in recent years. Unfortunately, the number of children accidentally ingesting these edibles has also gone up.

Even a Little Drinking Ages the Brain

It’s no secret that alcohol affects the human body in many ways, such as slurred speech, slowed reaction times, and impaired memory. Multiple studies have found a link between excessive alcohol use and damaged brain function, resulting in such conditions as dementia, deficits in learning and memory, mental disorders, and other cognitive damage. Even light to moderate drinking can age the brain faster than normal.

For more information, questions, or comments, please email Program Director Anna Bledsoe at abledsoe@voaor.org or call (503) 560-4373