Hamilton, NJ -- (SBWire) -- 03/15/2017 --In anticipation of St. Patrick's Day -- one of the biggest drinking events of the year -- the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) takes this opportunity to inform New Jersey residents of the insidious connection between alcohol misuse and problem gambling. Speaking on the subject, Neva Pryor, Executive Director of the CCGNJ, noted that, "Alcohol misuse and problem gambling commonly co-occur, and need specialized treatment from experts for successful recovery."

St. Patrick's Day is traditionally marked by higher alcohol consumption levels than usual. While presented as a social activity, binge drinking (defined as drinking more than four drinks in two hours for women, and more than five for men) has devastating effects, including injury and death due to reckless behavior. Aside from the problems alcohol misuse can pose in and of itself, the risk inflates when gambling enters the mix.

Even for those who do not suffer from a gambling addiction, the lack of inhibition caused by alcohol use can lead to reckless behavior while gambling, and may set an individual up for the spiral of "chasing losses" that characterizes a gambling addiction. Alcohol addiction is frequently co-occurring with or sequential to a gambling addiction, as well. For example, problem gamblers may celebrate wins or alleviate depression when they suffer a loss by consuming alcohol. Even when in recovery, an alcoholic who abstains from drinking may replace their substance misuse problem with a behavioral one such as gambling, whether in the form of Atlantic City casino gambling or racetrack wagering in Freehold, NJ.

The CCGNJ has offered help to those struggling with problem gambling (formerly referred to as compulsive gambling) for decades. It continues to do so in the form of its 24/7 hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER, which connects problem gamblers and their loved ones to resources for recovery. Learn more at http://www.800gambler.org.

About The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey is a non-profit, private organization dedicated to helping individuals seek help for their disordered gambling problem, and for concerned friends and loved ones to confidentially express their concerns about someone close to them. Their 24/7 hotline is 800-GAMBLER. The Council also works to train professionals in the fields of gambling addiction and recovery.

For more information, please visit http://www.800gambler.org.