Women gamble with their lives

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Whether it's trips to the casino, a few dollars dropped into a video lottery terminal (VLT) or a few hours spent playing bingo, gambling is something to do for fun, as an entertaining way to pass a bit of time.

But for some, this harmless pastime can become something else entirely-a harmful addiction.

What makes it even more of a problem is the fact that it's an invisible addiction, explained Gaylene Heidt from Aventa, an addiction treatment centre for women in Calgary.

"It's the only addiction you can really hide. You can't hide alcohol on your breath. You can't hide drugs. But you can hide gambling," said Heidt, who has been working in the area of problem gambling for the past five years.

It's important that people with gambling problems recognize them and seek help. If they don't, the problems could escalate to a point where the financial and emotional losses are great. And with those losses, the accompanying feelings of guilt are strong. Many can only see one way out of their predicament, Heidt explained

"The suicide rate for problem gamblers is much higher than other addictions. It's way higher because of the degree of losses," she said.

But how can a person tell when their gambling habits have begun to be a problem? If they start making excuses that they can't take part in activities with friends or family, but won't say why. If they're spending a lot of time away from home or work and are secretive about where they go and what they do. If money is disappearing, bills are being neglected or they begin asking people to borrow money. If they become moody or depressed. These are all possible signs that a person has a problem with gambling, Heidt said.

As is the case with other addictions, people with gambling problems often aren't willing to admit they have a problem.

"Often when you ask someone they won't admit it. They say, 'No, I just gamble for fun.' So that's what they'll say. They'll just say, 'No, my gambling's just recreation.' And so often you can't break through the denial," Heidt said. "So the main thing anybody can do is not lend money. Say 'No, I'm not giving you money.' Because they will ask. They'll all of a sudden say I need money for rent or food. Don't give them cash. Give them maybe food. And also maybe get a pamphlet from an agency and just leave it laying around. Or you could say 'I know a place where there's help for gambling if you decide you want help.' But you can't be too pushy."

Aventa is one of four addictions treatment centres in Alberta, and the only one that offers services specifically for women. Heidt explained that going to a women-only facility can make a big difference for a woman seeking help with a gambling addiction.

"Why it's so huge is because almost all women who have gambling problems have suffered from some sort of abuse. If a woman has suffered abuse in her past, as well as having problems right now, that makes her high risk. And so here they can deal with those issues with other women. Especially if there's sexual abuse or physical abuse, relationship abuse. They feel much safer sharing it with other women. Maybe they've been abused by males, and so it's much nicer to come here and just be with women," Heidt said.

"I know a lot of Aboriginal women like to come here because they get away from their communities, and there's more confidentiality. So that's one of the big draws we see. The nice part about our treatment is it's a whole month, so they get away long enough to really do the work."