NCJ Number
67903
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 3 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 37-41
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE STAGES THAT LEAD TO COMPULSIVE GAMBLING, THE SIGNS THET INDICATE SICK GAMBLING, AND THE WAYS TO CURE THE SICKNESS ATE DOCUMENTED, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE POLICE OFFICER AND POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
Abstract
THE GROWING PROBLEM OF COMPULSIVE GAMBLING WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS CHRONICLES. A LIST OF QUESTIONS COMPILED BY GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS, THE ONLY KNOWN RECOVERY PROGRAM, HELPS OFFICERS TO DISCOVER WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE BECOME COMPULSIVE, AND THEREFORE SICK. IF THEY PROBABLY HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM, WITH GGAMBLING, IF NOT A SICKNESS. STATISTICS ARE NOTED ON TYPES OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE MORE PRONE TO EXCESSIE GAMBLING DEVELOPED FROM PROFILES OF SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS. A PERSONALITY PROFILE IS DRAWN OF THE OFFICER WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO BECOME A COMPULSIVE GAMBLER. A THREE-PHASE PATTERN OF THE PROGRESSIVE BEHAVIORAL DISSORDER THAT LEADS TO COMPULSIVE GAMBLING IS DESCRIBED THAT INCLUDES THE WINNING PHASE, THE LOSING PHASE, AND THE DESPARATE PHASE. LISTS OF DESCRIPITIVE PHRASES ARE GIVEN SHOWING TYPICAL PROGRESSIONS OF ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES FROM THE BEST OF THE WORST OF THE PHASES. POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE WARNED TO WATCH OUT FOR SYMPTONS OF THE SICKNESS AND TO DEVELOP IN HOUSE PROGRAMS FOR DETECTION IF POSSIBLE. QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED THAT CAN BE ASKED THE OFFICER'S SPOUSE TO DISCOVER WHETHER OR NOT THE SUSPECT OFFICER IS INDEED SHOWING SIGNS OF COMPULSIVE GAMBLING. FINALLY, THE GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS PROGRAM IS DETAILED, WITH THE STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TOWARD RECOVERY AND THE OUTWARD SIGNS THAT WILL SHOW PROGRESS TOWARD RECOVERY. ABI MHP