People with a gambling addiction have a new resource in Cold Lake. Gamblers Anonymous meetings are now offered twice a week at the St. John’s Anglican Church hall.
According to their website, Alberta Gamblers Anonymous is “a nonprofit, self-supporting fellowship of recovering compulsive gamblers who meet regularly to help each other recover from the disease of compulsive gambling.”
The meetings are coordinated by a local volunteer.
The Gamblers Anonymous recovery pathway is patterned on other successful 12-step addiction recovery programs. Participants derive support from their fellow group members, and will sponsor each other to provide a personal source of help, support, and guidance.
According to the local organizer, anonymity and confidentiality are a crucial component of supporting recovery in a safe and trusting environment.
Problem gambling is similar to other addictions. It can start as a fun or recreational activity, but if used as an escape from life’s other problems the gambler can develop a compulsion. This compulsion feeds on itself until the gambler is no longer in control of it.
It can lead to devastating financial losses, dishonesty and distrust in relationships, family breakup, different forms of abuse, issues in the workplace or at school, and many other negative consequences.
Gambling addiction can affect anyone. Age, ethnicity, income, or any other status does not make someone more or less susceptible to problem gambling.
It is a serious personal issue and a serious societal problem. Like other addictions, it is an illness that usually requires help and support for the gambler to be able to manage.
Meetings are Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:00 pm at the Anglican Church hall, 4808 50 Avenue. You can get more information by calling (780) 207-5758.