NICOS Sing Tao April 10 1999

"WHEN A GAMBLER CANNOT STOP HIMSELFFROM GAMBLING,

IT IS AN ADDICTION"

"NICOS IS SPONSORING A FORUM AT CHINESE HOSPITAL "

Translated from the Sing Tao Daily News

April 10, 1999

Drugs and alcohol are common social problems, but gambling is a different

kind of addiction. Now there is a special hotline to deal with the gambling

issues and problems. NICOS has went invited people from Canada research to talk

about the gambling problems . Chinese Hospital is conducting this forums in hope

that the community of Chinatown would learn about this problem.

Yesterday main speaker was from the Chinese Family Life Services of Metro

Toronto name Patrick Au. He was aware of the Chinese gambling in 1994. As he points

out, the gambling in Chinese community is getting serious, but people in the community

is not aware of the problem on hand. Typically people think gambling is a bad

habit, not as an "addiction".

Contrary to common belief, gambling is a serious problem. "People with a

gambling problems put all their energy into gambling, people with problems do

not think how the outcome will turn out and continue gambling." In families where

one of the members has this kind of addiction.The family will most likely suffer emotional

distress. The addicts will most like spend a lot of their time in the gambling parlors, which

cause families'worries and also cause a lot of abuse in the families.

While gambling is a problem, the Chinese families still needs to bear with it. In one

of the views of gamblingin Chinatown, where most families are immigrants and has not

adapted to American job industries, but they do not want to return back to their home

countries. The families would make sacrifices for their children so they could one day

be successful by gambling.

How do you deal with the gambling addiction? One must take care of it

psychologically. Patrick Au said: "Most gamblers have a hard time dealing with people.

The best way to deal with that is to build a bond with the gamblers. Do not force him to

quit gambling immediately. Once he learns how to deal with his addiction, he will improve

relations with family as well as the society in general.

When NICOS did a survey of the Chinatown residents in Chinatown in 1997,

gambling was one of the two majors issue that Chinatown residents have identified. NICOS

Executive Director Kent Woo told said NICOS have since train 31 counselor to deal

with the gambling issues. If anyone that has a questions about gambling, then the should call

(415) 668-5955between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition there will be a Gambler Anonymous

program where people could deal their gambling addiction and to overcome their addiction.




		"WHEN A GAMBLER CANNOT STOP HIMSELFFROM GAMBLING, IT IS AN ADDICTION" "NICOS IS SPONSORING A FORUM AT CHINESE HOSPITAL " Translated from the Sing Tao Daily News April 10, 1999 Drugs and alcohol are common social problems, but gambling is a different kind of addiction. Now there is a special hotline to deal with the gambling issues and problems. NICOS has went invited people from Canada research to talk about the gambling problems . Chinese Hospital is conducting this forums in hope that the community of Chinatown would learn about this problem. Yesterday main speaker was from the Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto name Patrick Au. He was aware of the Chinese gambling in 1994. As he points out, the gambling in Chinese community is getting serious, but people in the community is not aware of the problem on hand. Typically people think gambling is a bad habit, not as an "addiction". Contrary to common belief, gambling is a serious problem. "People with a gambling problems put all their energy into gambling, people with problems do not think how the outcome will turn out and continue gambling." In families where one of the members has this kind of addiction.The family will most likely suffer emotional distress. The addicts will most like spend a lot of their time in the gambling parlors, which cause families'worries and also cause a lot of abuse in the families. While gambling is a problem, the Chinese families still needs to bear with it. In one of the views of gamblingin Chinatown, where most families are immigrants and has not adapted to American job industries, but they do not want to return back to their home countries. The families would make sacrifices for their children so they could one day be successful by gambling. How do you deal with the gambling addiction? One must take care of it psychologically. Patrick Au said: "Most gamblers have a hard time dealing with people. The best way to deal with that is to build a bond with the gamblers. Do not force him to quit gambling immediately. Once he learns how to deal with his addiction, he will improve relations with family as well as the society in general. When NICOS did a survey of the Chinatown residents in Chinatown in 1997, gambling was one of the two majors issue that Chinatown residents have identified. NICOS Executive Director Kent Woo told said NICOS have since train 31 counselor to deal with the gambling issues. If anyone that has a questions about gambling, then the should call (415) 668-5955between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition there will be a Gambler Anonymous program where people could deal their gambling addiction and to overcome their addiction.