Recovery Lines, pg. 2

Mutual Interest Forms Birth of an Alliance, pg.4-5

Researchers Find Similarities between Problem Gambling & Other Addictions, pg. 6

News & Notes, pg. 7

FINDING ANSWERS

NORTHSTAR PROBLEM GAMBLING ALLIANCE

Recovering from addiction is all about changing one’s behavior. Motivational interviewing (MI), an approach that’s helped people with alcohol and drug addictions change their behavior, is now being studied as a way to treat gambling addiction.

Motivational interviewing is a clinical approach that uses a directive, client-centered

counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence about changing the addictive behavior. David Hodgins, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Calgary in Canada, is testing this approach with problem gamblers.

In contrast to a confrontational style of addiction counseling (an image that persists today in popular culture), the counselor using MI responds empathically to the client’s expression of ambivalence. “Pushing or arguing against resistance seemed particularly counterproductive, in that it evoked further defense of the status quo. A guiding principle of MI was to have the client, rather than the counselor, voice the arguments for change.” (Miller & Rose, 2009, p. 2.)

MI is guided by !ve therapeutic guidelines: (a) expression of empathy (acceptance of the individual and recognition that ambivalence about change is normal), (b) development of a discrepancy between the individual’s present behavior and his or her goal and self-image, (c) avoidance of argument and confrontation, (d) rolling with resistance (looking for opportunities to reinforce accurate perceptions versus correcting misperceptions), and (e) support of the self ’s ability to change.

Intensive training of clinicians is the key to the success of MI. Two early studies found that although clinicians perceived themselves to be pro!cient in MI, tape-recorded work samples before and a"er training re#ected only modest changes in practice and no di$erence in clients’ in-session response. Extensive continuing education opportunities now exist for clinicians interested in MI. Visit www.motivationalinterview.org/ for more information.

CHANGE

1

Are you concerned that a friend or family member is in trouble with their gambling? Here are some warning signs.

Increased frequency of gambling and amount of money gambled

Preoccupation with gambling or obtaining money to gamble

Gambling continues despite negative consequences - financial problems, absence from work or family problems

Using gambling as a means to cope with loneliness, anger, stress or depression

Borrowing money or maxing out credit cards to gamble

Secretive behavior

Concerned persons are encouraged to call 1-800-333-HOPE to find resources in Minnesota.

IN THIS ISSUE

!e origins of the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance (NPGA), chronicled on pages four and "ve, clearly illustrate the many stakeholders involved in legalized gambling in Minnesota. With its increased popularity and availability in the past 20 years, gambling generates signi"cant tourism dollars, tax revenue and support for charitable causes. While others debate how and if gambling is an appropriate source of revenue for the state, the reality is that it has become a key part of Minnesota’s recreational landscape.

!e members of the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance represent various sectors and interests in the gambling, prevention, research, treatment and recovery "elds. Our agency does not debate the value or morality of gambling; we take a neutral position on gambling and leave that debate to others. We are, however, not neutral on problem gambling. We know that as long as there is gambling, there will be a percentage of the people who will become locked in a struggle with the addictive/compulsive side of gambling. !e e#ect on those individuals - and the health, well being and economic ripple e#ect on their families, employers and communities - makes problem gambling an important public issue.

At Northstar, we come together to help people become aware of this problem, to understand it as an addictive issue, and to support the work of the researchers, prevention specialists and the therapeutic community to provide e#ective awareness, education, treatment and recovery support. Treatment of problem gambling is e#ective and individuals "nd recovery and rebuild their lives. We hope our legislative leaders will recognize that any expansion of gambling should be accompanied by a budget allocation to strengthen and expand existing education and treatment programs.

!e more we learn and understand the complexities of this condition, the be$er we will be able to prevent and treat gamblers and their families. I invite you to join us in this e#ort through your personal membership in the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance. Please feel %ee to call me with your ideas or questions at 612-424-8595, or visit our website at www.NorthstarProblemGambling.org for more information.

!ank You,

Cathie Perrault Executive Director NPGA

Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance is a nonprofit agency whose mission

is to help those affected by problem gambling in Minnesota. We do this

by promoting awareness and understanding of the issue via our website,

newsletter, community education programs, sponsorship of the Minnesota

State Conference on Problem Gambling, and training of professionals in

preventing and treating problem gambling.

2

Cathie Perrault

Executive Director

NPGA

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!We thank all our members, donors, volunteers and affiliates who have contributed to our mission.

Become a member

northstarproblem gambing.org” to join us!

My name is Randy and I’m a recovering compulsive gambler. My intent is to provide insight into my recovery and that of others who I have come to know during the past six and half years. !e title, “Recovery Lines,” has special meaning for me. Not just about the numerous helpful resources that are available for compulsive gamblers, but also about how I viewed myself during the throes of this addiction.

About ten years ago, I was heavily into a gambling addiction. My life was quite chaotic in all areas: work stress, family stress, spiritual stress, "nancial, etc. No ma#er what I tried in order to control it, the addiction became more of my outlet. It seemed to be the only alternative for survival, yet, at the same time, it consumed me to the point that all my perceived stresses only seemed to magnify themselves further. It wasn’t apparent to me at the time that I was really running from myself and not the perceived stresses in my life that I justi"ed my escape from. I hid a lifetime of perceived unful"lled personal expectations by directing my inner anger at others in a not-so-obvious manner as to be called out on it. Although some thought that I was an ideal husband, father, neighbor and worker, li#le did they know the “real” me. I was really the li#le insecure boy who did not know where and what he was supposed to be, much less

being good at anything. Although I must say, I learned to fake it well. !e sixties song, “Cathy’s Clown,” always brought a tear to my eye. I was laughing on the outside but crying on the inside.

About ten years ago I wrote a short story about myself entitled “!e Bobber”. Yes, that was me just bobbing along in all directions in the middle of an endless ocean. I kept a vigilant lookout, hoping that someone would save me by throwing me a lifeline. All those lines out there and none of them were close enough to grab onto. I was really tired a$er years of bobbing along and began looking forward to when I would eventually begin to sink into total emptiness. My writing cried out for help, but no one heard it. It was futile, as every day became the same day and I would convince myself that it wasn’t that bad. !e merry-go-round went around faster and faster. I had to get o%, as it seemed to be the only logical alternative to controlling this addiction. I won’t go into the really bizarre thinking that went into all that, but su&ce it to say I was going to save everyone from me, in hopes of ridding myself of all the acquired shame and guilt and sparing them the same.

Since being in recovery for a number of years, I’ve heard similar stories. Not knowing exactly where we were supposed to be and who we really were. Today I’ve just learned to accept that I am where I am supposed to be, one day at a time and doing the next right thing. As for those “recovery lines” … well, I found out that you actually have to swim out to get them and grab onto them. !ey don’t necessarily come to you. But once you grab them, never let go.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

1,150The number of individuals receiving state-funded treatment from problem gambling treatment providers (The state of Minnesota will provide treatment if it’s not covered by insurance)

80The percent of U.S. adults who have gambled at least once in the last year

2,000,000The number of adults considered to be pathological gamblers (constituting one percent of all gamblers)

2 to 3The percent of gamblers who have serious problems with their gambling

1 out of 3Minnesotans who say they know someone with a gambling problem

1-800-333-HOPEThe phone number for the problem gambling helpline

I kept a vigilant lookout, hoping that someone would

save me by throwing me a lifeline . . . (you) have to swim out to get them and

grab onto them. They don’t necessarily come to you.

3

BIRTH OF AN ALLIANCE

In 2001, gambling in Minnesota was entering its second decade. Deemed successful and gaining increasing acceptance in the state, all signs pointed to an ever-expanding universe of gambling options. At the same time, however, there was growing concern that “problem gambling” was too o!en going undetected, and that an overarching organization comprised of all interested parties was needed to create more awareness and to provide be"er education, support and advocacy.

Over breakfast at Key’s Café and Bakery in Roseville, three individuals pooled their talents, experience and passions to create such an organization. Lance Holthusen, whose in-depth knowledge of addiction and the challenges faced by communities in addressing addiction was gained came from years of ministry work, brought the voice of a seasoned and passionate advocate. Roger Svendsen, an expert in training, education, prevention and outreach from the Minnesota Institute of Public Health, lent innovative thinking and insight into communicating public health issues. And Don Feeney, research director with the Minnesota Lo"ery, contributed political savvy and intimate knowledge of state government.

Lance Holthusen (left), Governor Tim Pawlenty (center), and Representative Laura Brod (right) following the signing of the bill that authorized funding for Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance.

On Sept. 26, 2001 Northstar was officially

budget, no staff and no funding, but we had bylaws and a lot of passion.”

4

RESOURCES AND MORE ON NORTHSTAR WEBSITE

The Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance website is an excellent one-stop source for all things related to problem gambling. Here are some of the things you can expect to find when you visit www.northstarproblemgambling.org.

Links to articles about gambling behavior

Guidance in determining who might be a problem gambler, including a 2-minute risk test that can be taken online

Where to go for help if you or someone you know is a problem gambler

List of upcoming events and conferences

!e group discussed the needs of a new organization and set out basic goals. !ey sought:

1) a"liation with the National Council on Problem Gambling,

2) broad-based representation from people in recovery, families of those in recovery, therapists, clinicians, researchers and the gaming industry, and

3) to establish a policy-neutral entity that could provide unbiased answers to media requests.

“We stressed the importance of having everyone together at the table with an equal voice,” says Lance. “We wanted that represented in our name and in the manner in which the board was assembled.” Hence, the organization’s name would become the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance.

Articles of incorporation were #led on Sept. 26, 2001, and Northstar was o"cially launched. “We had no budget, no sta$ and no funding,” says Don, “but we had bylaws and a lot of passion.”

!e #rst operational task was to assemble a working board of directors. !irteen individuals were invited to join the board and all agreed without exception. “!e commitment of the #rst board members was exceptional and pivotal to our growth,” says Roger. Nearly a decade later, four original board members still serve while several others continue to play instrumental roles.

!e board was successful in forging relationships that supported Northstar’s mission and provided resources to

guide and fund the %edgling alliance. Todd Sipe, from Bremer Bank, provided business savvy. Julie Berglund connected with Randy Stinch#eld, Ph.D, a leading gambling researcher from the University of Minnesota. King Wilson cultivated involvement from a variety of charitable gambling organizations while John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, brought credibility in the form of support from the tribal community.

Major support for the alliance came from key players such as the Minnesota Lo&ery and Canterbury Park. !e lo&ery’s #rst director, George Andersen was visionary in recognizing the importance of the alliance and commi&ed the lo&ery through funding and Don’s active involvement. Canterbury continues to be most generous in its backing of Northstar.

With building blocks solidly in place, the work of the organization commenced. Lance assembled conferences around the state featuring speakers with national reputations. !ey helped shine the light on addictive gambling and challenge the stigma associated with the behavior. Ultimately, the conferences, which continue to this day, raised Northstar’s visibility and credibility, and be&er positioned the growing organization to obtain crucial funding.

Lance’s persistence in the pursuit of Northstar’s mission resulted in perhaps the organization’s greatest breakthrough in 2005, when he helped to successfully lobby the legislature for funding support. “!e legislature quickly understood that there was a need for an independent organization like Northstar,” says Don. “!e funding they provided really made the organization vital, and enabled us to do so many more things.”

One of those things was establishing a gambling hotline, a responsibility that fell to Roger, who had created a similar

continured on page 6

. . . there was growing

gambling” was too often going undetected

5

New research from the National Center for Responsible Gaming and its Institute of Research on Gambling Disorders suggests that the brain activity of problem gamblers is similar to that of drug users. An individual’s genetic makeup and the environment during youth can predispose a person to !nd in gambling – as he or she might in alcohol, cocaine, or nicotine – a feel-good result that becomes a craving.

Addiction, whether in the form of gambling, drugs or overeating, turns on the reward section of the brain. As a result, new drugs such as Naltrexone are focused on blocking the opioid transmi"ers in the brain. Note: the research on Naltrexone was largely conducted by University of Minnesota researchers Dr. Jon Grant and Dr. Suck Kim.

#e !ndings, which add to a growing body of evidence produced by the scienti!c community demonstrating inherent similarities in the symptoms of all addictive behaviors, hold great implications. #e more program gambling is seen as an addictive behavior, the more likely it will be formally included in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. #at would enable more thorough and e$ective treatment in the health care system and would increase the availability of research funding.

“#e decision to group problem gambling with substance addictions has the potential to shine a greater social, research and treatment spotlight on this serious public health issue,”

says Dr. Jon Grant, co-director of the Impulse Control Disorders Clinic at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. “Although the grouping of gambling with substance addictions is a notable advancement, we should be cautious not to forget the heterogeneity of problem gamblers as well as the need to examine the signi!cant ways that gambling di$ers from many substance addictions.”

helpline for a state-run substance abuse program. “#ere are many similarities between substance addiction and gambling addiction,” says Roger. He also leveraged his experience to create training programs aimed at helping various groups of professionals identify individuals with likely gambling addictions or those at risk. Other education e$orts have been aimed at the “a$ected others” of problem gamblers.

Now nine years old, Northstar has made great inroads into raising awareness in Minnesota about problem gambling and coordinating the resources to support treatment and prevention. Although many still think of gambling addiction as a moral failure rather than a disease, it is gradually becoming destigmatized and is increasingly viewed in the same manner as alcohol and substance abuse issues.

However, with initiatives to create new gambling establishments and new forms of gambling pending in the state legislature, Northstar will be further challenged to provide needed resources. “#ere will be more reason for Northstar to exist from the perspective of everyone concerned,” says Lance. “We just need to continue to bring people from all sectors together for the common good.” Current Executive Director Cathie Perrault echos that sentiment.

It’s the same guiding principle that helped to form the Northstar Alliance back in 2001. And it’s one that will likely ensure the organization’s success well into the future.

PROBLEM GAMBLING & OTHER ADDICTIONS

Birth of an Alliance, continured from page 5

Lance Holthusen

Addiction, whether in the form of gambling, drugs or overeating, turns on

the reward section of the brain.

6

A recent article in the New York Times about problem gambling included an excellent Q&A with Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of the gambling studies program and an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles. He addressed a range of gambling addiction topics including: when gambling becomes a problem; stock trading as a form of gambling addiction; gambling addiction as a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder; the concept

incidence of gambling addiction in the population.

The full article and Q&A can be found at http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/when-is-gambling-an-addiction/. You may also find this link on the Alliance website at www.northstarproblemgambling.org.

&

Dates to Remember

National Problem Gambling Awareness Week March 6-12, 2011

Minnesota Problem Gambling Conference, Twin Cities May 3, 2011

National Conference on Problem Gambling, Boston, MA June 30-July 2, 2011

Northstar Has Speakers for Civic or Community GroupsNorthstar Problem Gambling Alliance can provide a free speaker to your community or civic group on the topic of problem gambling. Customized presentations range from 20 minutes to more than an hour, and will include general information on gambling addiction, resources and how to get help or help someone else. Contact Roger Svendsen for more information at rsvendsen@yahoo.com or 612-247-3006.

Attention Professionals We are actively seeking presenters and panel participants for the Minnesota Problem Gambling Conference on May 3, 2011. If you work with problem gamblers and have therapeutic techniques, knowledge and insights that would be useful to share, drop us a note or give us a call to discuss options. Our email address is cp@northstarproblemgambling.org and our phone number is 612-424-8595.

Northstar’s New Office AddressIn early December, Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance moved its office in the Roseville Professional Building from Suite 435 to Suite 630. The full mailing address is:

Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance 2233 Hamline Avenue North Suite 630 Roseville, MN 55113

Join the Alliance!Membership contributions help support outreach work for the prevention and treatment of problem gambling. If you’d like to become a memberof the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance or make a contribution, visit www.northstarproblemgambling.org and click on the

your contribution to our office address. Our Alliance is our membership, so please consider joining. Thank you for supporting prevention, education and treatment of problem gambling.

7

Recovery Lines, pg. 2

Mutual Interest Forms Birth of an Alliance, pg.4-5

Researchers Find Similarities between Problem Gambling & Other Addictions, pg. 6

News & Notes, pg. 7

Changing Probelm Gambling Behavior through:

NORTHSTAR PROBLEM GAMBLING ALLIANCE

AWARENESS

EDUCATION

RESEARCH

IN THIS ISSUE

The Northstar ProblemGambling Alliance

2233 Hamline Avenue NorthSuite 630Roseville, MN 55113

Save These DatesNational Problem Gambling Awareness Week March 6-12, 2011

Minnesota Problem Gambling Conference Twin Cities May 3, 2011

National Conference on Problem Gambling Boston, MA June 30-July 2, 2011

The Northstar ProblemGambling Alliance

2233 Hamline Avenue NorthSuite 630Roseville, MN 55113

Save These DatesNational Problem Gambling Awareness Week March 6-12, 2011

Minnesota Problem Gambling Conference Twin Cities May 3, 2011

National Conference on Problem Gambling Boston, MA June 30-July 2, 2011