According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, problem gambling is defined as “gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational.” The term “problem gambling” includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as pathological or compulsive gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, chasing losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences.

Tips to Prevent Problem Gambling:
For those who choose to gamble, there are some general principles that can help to make gambling safer and reduce the risk that problems will occur.

1) Don’t think of gambling as a way to make money:  All forms of gambling have the same principle – the vast majority lose so that a very small minority can have big wins.  Virtually all people with gambling problems hold the false expectation that they are the ones who will be the big winners.  That belief feeds the problem.

2) Always gamble with money that you can afford to lose: Gamble with money that you set aside for fun, like going to the movies or going out dinner. Never use money that you need for important things, like rent, bills, tuition, etc.

3) Set a money limit: Decide how much money you can afford to lose before you play. When you have lost that amount of money, quit.  If you win – remember it won’t happen most of the time.

4) Set a time limit. Decide how much time you can afford to spend gambling. When you reach that time limit, stop gambling.

5) Never chase losses. If you lose money, never try to get it back by going over your limit.  This usually leads to even bigger losses.

6) Don’t gamble when you are depressed or upset: It is hard to make good decisions about gambling when you are feeling down. 

7) Balance gambling with other activities: It’s important to enjoy other activities so that gambling doesn’t become too big a part of your life.

Tips to Help a Friend or Family Member with a Gambling Problem:
If you have a friend or family member with a gambling problem, it’s only natural to want to help.  Before you approach the person, try to learn what you can about problem gambling, including its warning signs and options for help and recovery.   Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is that you cannot stop someone from gambling.  They have to stop gambling themselves once they are ready and willing to change their behavior. 

Here are some more things to consider:

1) Get informed:  It’s important to gather what information you can about problem gambling before you approach someone who you think might have a problem.  You might also want to find out what kind of treatment services are available so that if your friend or family member does want help, you can let them know what some of their options are.

2) Don’t hide the problem:  Often, friends and family of the person with a gambling problem think that they’re helping things by making excuses for the individual, lending them money, and covering up their behavior.   In reality, all that they’re doing is allowing the problem to continue.   Friends and family can let the person know that they’re there for them and will support them in their efforts to get professional help, but they should leave the responsibility for gambling and its negative consequences to the individual.

3) Choose the right moment to talk:  If the person with a gambling problem is expressing remorse about their gambling or they’ve just finished a gambling episode, they may be more open to talking about the issue. If they are and you’re prepared to talk to them about it, try to do so in a caring and understanding manner—and remember to keep focused on the person’s behavior, rather than on the person themselves.

4) Talk about impacts: Let the person with a gambling problem know how their behavior is affecting others, including you, but don’t attack them. If the person agrees that they may have a problem and are willing to seek help, give them the number to a treatment facility.

5) Be supportive: Try to support the person with a gambling problem in making changes for the better: Recognize and acknowledge any positive steps they’ve made as they work through their problem, talk to the person about how their recovery is progressing and ask how you can help.

6) Take care of yourself: Finding a safe place to discuss your own feelings and emotions can help you cope with your friend or family member’s gambling.  Even if they choose not to seek help for themselves, the support you get can still make things better for you.

It is possible for compulsive gamblers to enter recovery, knowing that it takes one day at a time for change to be successful.  If you feel you or a loved one need help for a compulsive gambling addiction, please contact Project Turnabout today at 1-800-862-1453.  Funding may be available for Minnesota residents to assist with treatment costs.  Phone calls are free and confidential. 

Resources for this article can be found at www.responsiblegambling.org

The humble beginnings of the Vanguard Program began by receiving its first grant from the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services to conduct outpatient programming with off-campus housing.  The program was held in one room of Project Turnabout’s Granite Falls Campus. All compulsive gambling treatment programming was structured and conducted separately from the chemical dependency programs. 

After multiple relocations of services and surviving the devastating effects of an F-4 tornado, Vanguard eventually found its permanent home on Project Turnabout’s Granite Falls Campus.  In 2006, Vanguard received the “Outstanding Contributor to the Field” award from the National Council on Problem Gambling.  

The staff of Vanguard has been given the opportunity to witness, first hand, that recovery is real and individuals and families can and do experience a better quality of life.  To date, the Vanguard Program has been able to help more than 2,807 individuals, from all over the world, find and enter recovery from compulsive gambling.  

“What started out as a one room program with four staff people is now a 20-bed inpatient treatment facility with twelve staff.  It’s been a privilege, not only to work with all the talented and dedicated staff throughout the years, but with all the individuals who have come here for help.  We have become a family in recovery and will continue our commitment to the compulsive gambler and their families.”   - Sandi Brustuen, Vanguard Unit Coordinator           

If you feel you or a loved one need help for a compulsive gambling addiction, please contact Project Turnabout today at 1-800-862-1453.  Funding may be available for Minnesota residents to assist with treatment costs.  Phone calls are free and confidential. 

“Get U.G.L.Y.” 

Speaker: Shari O.  

Saturday, Feb. 25 | 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Project Turnabout Gymnasium
660 – 18th St., Granite Falls, MN 56241

Shari’s Story: “I have been sober for 6 years this past September.  More than discovering my own alcoholism I have experienced many co-dependent relationships, including ones with my two older children.  For the past three years I have been on a journey of awakening that has

“I have my own youth support program that I’ve been running for three years and came up with a self esteem platform called “Get UGLY” the Unconditional Gift of Loving Yourself.”

encompassed manifestations of physical ailments that have resulted from adamantly “stuffing” and “numbing” all of my emotional wounds.  I survived the abuse of others only to discover I’d become the worst abuser of myself.  It is has not been easy but I can testify that I am a much stronger and a more complete person than I was.  What I would like to share focuses on healing the Self; re-discovering and excavating who we are and honoring that.  I have my own youth support program that I’ve been running for three years and came up with a self esteem  platform called “Get UGLY.”  the Unconditional Gift of Loving Yourself, which is relevant to all ages; the premise being that in order to find your beauty you have to “Get UGLY.”.  Getting UGLY means digging deep and letting go of all the skeletons of the past that we’ve diligently yet unsuccessfully tried to kill and bury.  It is my belief that addiction of any kind, be it chemical or behavioral, stems from every one and every thing we have ever attempted to evade in our lives. We can choose to survive or we can choose to live to our fullest, but the only time we dare to live is when we dare to be ourselves.”

This is a FREE luncheon/speaker event open to all women in recovery, interested in recovery, & others who could benefit from attending.  For planning purposes, please confirm your intentions to attend by calling (320) 564-4911 or 1-800-862-1453 prior to 4:00p.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2012.  All guests are asked to park in the back (staff) parking lot and to enter the building through the back entrance into the gymnasium.

Sponsored By: Project Turnabout • 660 18th Street • Granite Falls, MN

The Difference Of Recovery

Presenter: Jeff D.

Saturday, Feb. 25 | 8 p.m.
Project Turnabout Gymnasium
660 – 18th St., Granite Falls, MN 56241

Active in his recovery, presenter Jeff D. seeks to motivationally share his message of “the difference of recovery.”

“If you want a different life, to be different and feel different you will need to DO DIFFERENT,” he said. “Getting sober is easy, it’s staying sober that means things need to be different.”

Jeff has been in recovery for 25 months and for a majority of the past five years. He chose to personally consider the use of pain medications after a surgery as a relapse and has started a new sober date since.

“What we don’t value we will lose,” he said. “We need to get to a place where we value being sober and are willing to safeguard our sobriety. This place is called RECOVERY.”

“Treatment is easy…it’s the transition to life outside where we make it or fail. There is no wishing the disease away. This is a program of action…much of it small, deliberate choices. Everything we do, every choice we make has some kind of price attached to it…know the price.”

Quarterly speaker events are sponsored by Project Turnabout. Everyone interested in, living in, or supporting recovery is invited to attend. This is a free event open to the community. Please park in back parking lot. Refreshments will be served.

Even if you find yourself not a football enthusiast, most people are drawn to the Super Bowl broadcast for one of its famed highlights – the new commercials.

It’s important to recognize the impact commercials have on your behavior.  Alcohol and drug companies spend millions of dollars to take part in this media frenzy. Their messages reach all members of the TV viewing audience, from adults to teens to young children, and they take advantage of every precious second to sell you on starting or increasing the use of their product.

Sometimes, even adults have a difficult time separating the myths of marketing from the truth.  Alcohol and drug companies commercials’ from the 2011 game portrayed ‘life-like’ scenarios such as:

The Ad: A woman and man have won a home makeover and the only change made was to put a bucket of beer on the kitchen counter. The “host” of the home makeover show states that they gave the room “a fun vibe” and “clearly this is the room people want to hang out in.”

The Message: This one’s pretty obvious. Alcohol = fun = partying with more friends.

Parents should discuss commercials like these with their teens and children. Sending a strong, clear message that commercials are not like real life is important in helping steer adolescents away from using alcohol or prescription medications.

Other Super Bowl Sunday woe’s to be aware of when gathering with friends is the amount of alcohol consumed by guests. Alcohol-impaired driving is not only against the law but poses a great risk for accidents that may result in life threatening injuries or even death.

It is important for hosts’ to offer and encourage non-alcoholic beverages throughout the celebration.  For those that do choose to partake in alcohol consumption, plan ahead to have a designated sober driver.  Law enforcement across the nation will be on high alert for DWI’s, so please do your part in keeping everyone safe and do not drive if you have had any alcoholic beverages.

We hope you all have a safe, sober and enjoyable Super Bowl Sunday.

Resources for this article: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/truth-advertising-super-bowl-alcohol-commercials/

Binge drinking is defined by men drinking 5 or more alcoholic beverages within a short period of time, or women drinking 4 or more beverages within a short period of time. Binge drinking is not just a problem for college age party go-ers. More than half of the alcohol adults drink is while binge drinking.

There are many steps that can be taken to help prevent binge drinking in our communities. Community leaders, and members, are encouraged to connect with their Regional Prevention Coordinator to help develop coalitions that build partnerships among schools, community and faith-based organizations, law enforcement, health care, and public health agencies.

 Age group with the most binge drinkers: 18-34

Age group that binge drinks most often: 65+

Income group with most binge drinkers: more than $75,000

Income group that binge drinks the most often and drinks the most per binge: less than $25,000

Personal steps can also be taken to avoid binge drinking:

1. Be aware of the health consequences of binge drinking. Being aware of the problems associated with binge drinking is an important part of making a clear decision to overcome binge drinking.
2. Avoid situations and possible triggers for binge drinking. Try to stay away from parties where drinking alcohol is the main focus of the event. Avoid participating in drinking competitions or games.
3. Understand what a standard drink is. Be aware that most often the size served is larger than a recommended serving size.
4. Consume slowly. Only take a few sips of your beverage at a time. Do not drink multiple drinks in an hour. Your body absorbs alcohol more than 90 minutes after your last sip, and you may not realize how
   your body is affected right away.
5. Choose to drink soda or other non-alcoholic beverages.
6. Go out with friends who have similar consumption limits in mind. Friends bring a lot of peer pressure to the situation. Choose friends who respect your limits and choose to not binge drink.
7. Stay away from alcopops. Alcopops contain a lot of sugar so they taste and drink like traditional soda beverages. It is all too easy to drink large amounts of these in a short amount of time.
8. Remember that alcohol, while socially condoned as a recreational drug, is not a competition, nor is it a way to look cool.

Ultimately increased awareness and understanding of the effects of binge drinking will help sway society to healthier behaviors. Parents and adults are encouraged to talk with kids and their community about the negative effects of binge drinking. For more information or guides to start the conversation, visit Time To Talk.

Resources Behind This Blog:
Binge drinking: Nationwide problem, local solutions. (2012, January). Vital Signs, Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/BingeDrinking/?s_cid=tw_cdc1118

The Center for Women’s Recovery at Project Turnabout understands that living with the disease of chemical dependency is a different experience for women than it is for men.  The Center helps women understand the effects of their addiction and prepares them for the special challenges that they may face in recovery.

“My daughter has been drug free for 8 1/2 years and it is only with your help that she was able to turn her life around.”

Recovery from alcohol and drugs promotes freedom towards growth and change in the mind, body and spirit.  Women are welcomed into a community of ongoing recovery and growth that helps them face their addictions clearly and proactively, as they would face any other disease.  

The Center for Women’s Recovery recognizes the importance of healthy living.  Fun and healthy physical activity is integrated into each patient’s personal treatment plan, along with a well balanced meal plan.  With the help of our multi-disciplinary team, women in the Center receive the tools they need to help build a positive self-image, which is something a majority of women struggle with while using. 

We employ the Twelve Step Program of abstinence to form an essential core to the recovery process.  This model for healing incorporates healthy, balanced relationships with self, peers and other support persons and an effective source of spiritual help.  

Because women have complex lives and needs, both residential (short-term and long-term care options) and outpatient programs are offered.  The Center offers a warm, feminine environment that projects respect and dignity for the individual and celebrates women’s empowerment and recovery.  Most importantly, the Center’s staff holds vision, love and energy for women in recovery. 

For more information or to inquire about or arrange for admission, please call Marti, Mark B., Kelli, or Bob at 1-800-862-1453.

Any man working the 12-Steps is welcome to attend Project Turnabout’s Men’s Recovery Meetings. Please contact Caroline at 1-800-862-1453 if you have any questions.

Project Turnabout would like to thank all of you that have kept us in your thoughts over this past year. This time of year is so special because it reminds us of all the remarkable people that have made a positive difference in the lives of our patients and families. Every gift of time, talent, or philanthropic investment is so greatly appreciated and truly played a part in making 2011 a wonderful year for our patients, families, and staff.

This is a time of reflection and gratitude, so we’d like to share the abundance of hope and transformation we’ve seen at Project Turnabout this past year.  We were blessed to be able to provide treatment services to more than 1,400 individuals and families, accounting for 34,367 days of residential treatment, 8,202 outpatient treatment visits, and 1,310 educational visits, domestic abuse program, diversion classes and DWI clinics.  Because of people and organizations like you, Project Turnabout was also able to help more than 200 individuals and families by disbursing more than $157,000 for scholarship support raised through our annual appeals, fundraising events, and contributions from individuals and organizations.

From our hearts to yours, please continue to think of Project Turnabout’s patients and families when considering your charity of choice for your year-end giving.  We want to be able to provide help and hope for even more people next year.  If you are planning on making a year-end financial investment, we encourage you to do so and assist our patients and their families in starting their recovery journey!

100% of every dollar received directly impacts our patients and the next generation as well.  It changes their lives.  Please make your year-end tax-deductible donation, memorial or honorary gift by contacting Mark Sannerud, Director of Development and Marketing/Outreach at 320-564-4911 or msannerud@projectturnabout.org.

You may also give online at http://projectturnabout.org/donations/.

All of us at Project Turnabout wish you a happy and healthy New Year!

As the holday season is in full-swing it is important to remember that there are steps you can take to help ensure that you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and happy holiday. This includes openly talking about alcohol abuse, binge drinking and drunk/drugged driving with young people in your life and set a good example. We’ve seen time and again that parents and adults have a big influence on children’s decisions not to drink. For evidence-based approaches on preventing underage drinking, visit the Too Smart To Start and Stop Underage Drinking Portal of Federal Resources Web sites.

If you are hosting or attending holiday parties this year, there are some key things you can do to prevent dangerous “binge alcohol use” and impaired driving.

• Avoid making alcohol the main focus of social events. Enjoy holiday parties through music, dancing, games, food, and lively conversation.
• Be sure to offer plenty of nonalcoholic choices such as sparkling water, fancy juice, soft drinks, and bottled drinking water.
• Stop serving drinks at least 1 hour before the end of the event. Instead, serve coffee, non-alcoholic beverages, and desserts at that time.
• Avoid salty foods, which are known to encourage people to drink more.  Serve high protein and carbohydrate foods, such as cheese and meats, which can help to slow the effects of alcohol.
• Recruit designated drivers ahead of time to make sure that everyone has a safe ride home. Be prepared to offer or use other transportation such as cabs or “safe ride” programs in your area; keep the phone numbers of local cab services on hand for yourself and guests.
• Finally, don’t be afraid to stop a friend or loved one from getting behind the wheel.

To learn more about what SAMHSA is doing to prevent alcohol abuse, visit SAMHSA’s Prevention Page.

We wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season!

Stay safe and healthy this holiday season. (2011, December 16). Retrieved from http://blog.samhsa.gov/2011/12/16/stay-safe-and-healthy-this-holiday-season/