As the recent Memorial Day holiday reminds us, all of us care deeply about those who sacrifice so much for our country. We know that they lay down their lives for us. Even those who return home often struggle with long-term challenges, some of which aren’t immediately visible.
Some of these hidden wounds result from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). And some develop into another chronic disease that often goes unnoticed and untreated – problem gambling.
According to a Georgia State University report, veterans and military service members experience higher rates of problem gambling than the general population. In one sense, they stare down a double threat: Active duty service members are typically comprised of young unmarried men, a high-risk group by itself; and, problem gambling and other mental health or substance abuse issues often accompany PTSD.
Maryhaven, one of only six recognized gambling addiction treatment centers in Ohio, can help veterans and their families deal with the array of mental health and addiction issues, including gambling addiction. Thanks to the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County, these services can be offered with no or very limited, out-of-pocket costs to the pathological gamblers and are free to their family members who are Franklin County residents.
Great care also is available through Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, but we know that not all veterans are eligible for these services or they seek other alternatives. For example, veterans less-than-honorably discharged because of mental illness or trauma often face a self-defeating cycle. The current VA Secretary recently said he recognizes this issue and intends to dedicate more mental health resources for veterans regardless of character of discharge.
A colleague of mine in Massachusetts said recently that she sees the suffering in many of our veterans who started gambling overseas and came home in the throes of addiction, often too embarrassed to seek help.
This is the sad reality of gambling addiction. Just like other addiction disorders, brain chemistry and processes are hijacked by the addictive substance or behavior. The person believes he or she cannot stop the gambling and constantly rationalizes that one more roll, one more bet, will somehow win back all loses and allow them to walk away. That final roll never happens and, in its wake, the gambler may now cope with extreme financial losses, even bankruptcy, divorce or loss of family relationships, possibly criminal charges for theft, forgery and embezzlement and, at the very worst case, thoughts of suicide.
We set aside the last Monday each May to remember the service millions of people gave to their country. At one of the ceremonies this year, a veteran told his colleagues that for him, every day is Memorial Day as he thinks of the men and women he served with, those who didn’t come back and those who came home bearing the mental and emotional scars of combat.
Maryhaven is honored to serve our veterans. We believe they have more than earned one more chance.
