Hamilton, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/02/2016 -- For years, it has been observed that a correlation exists between domestic violence and disordered gambling. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), a non-profit organization that offers support, treatment and hope to problem gamblers and their loved ones, including access to Gamblers Anonymous meetings in NJ, recently conducted a survey intended to discover more about the coincidence of these two issues. Their findings were released this month.
The survey was conducted from June 3 to June 20, 2016, and was distributed through both an online embedded survey and social media. There were 118 respondents overall, with 100 responses ultimately used. The respondents ranged in age from 17 to over 60, the age group which had the most responses. 53% of the respondents self-identified as female, with the rest identifying as male.
The results of the survey are startling. 30% of the 100 respondents said that they or a partner engaged in gaming or gambling more than once per week, and many respondents indicated that they either experienced a gambling issue or knew someone with a gambling problem. One in four stated that gambling had made their home life unhappy overall and that they or their partner would become irritable, angry or violent either after losing a gamble or discussed household finances. Additionally, one in four indicated that they had used drugs or alcohol to cope with violence, abuse or emotional distress. Finally, just over half (53%) affirmed that they or someone close to them had been the victim of domestic abuse or violence, including but not limited to physical, verbal, psychological or emotional abuse.
Based on the results of this survey, the CCGNJ has concluded that there is an urgent need for preventative measures against domestic violence and other abuse. The Council urges mental health professionals and treatment specialists to take note of these results and factor them into treatment programs accordingly. Additionally, those experiencing gambling disorders and domestic violence firsthand are not without hope. They can call the CCGNJ's 24/7 hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER, for professional support and access to treatment resources like Gamblers Anonymous meetings from Monmouth, NJ to Atlantic City.
By working together, residents of New Jersey can break the cycle of gambling and domestic violence. 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 compulsive 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.