I've taken large amounts of money from my parents. I've written bad cheques. Through counselling, Derevensky tries to help people like David find substitutes for gambling. We warn them that they'll probably never find anything quite as exciting as gambling, but they can still develop interests which are an enjoyable alternative. He also helps them to form support networks and to address, through psychotherapy, the personal problems which are often caused and aggravated by gambling but which also often encourage them to gamble more.
Many people gamble to escape their problems.
We try to help them confront the problems instead. Alarmed at the growing havoc caused by compulsive gambling, Derevensky and his team are going further. Among other initiatives, they are seeking funding to prepare two videos one aimed at children and the other at adolescents which would be shown at schools to warn of the dangers of gambling. They have met with social service groups in the U.S. and Canada, to provide training on dealing with gamblers. The situation won't improve, and will probably get worse, unless there is a strong campaign in our society for education and prevention.