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Fairfield's Hwang Puts Spotlight On Problem Gambling Awareness

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Fairfield state Rep. Tony Hwang and the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling recently kicked off March as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

State Rep. Tony Hwang (R-134 Fairfield and Trumbull) and the CT Council on Problem Gambling held a press conference to kick-off March as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Photo Credit: Courtesy cthouserepublicans

Hwang and the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling joined youth anti-gambling leaders from Masuk High School in Monroe. The event’s goal is to encourage health-care providers to screen clients for gambling problems and to raise public awareness of problem gambling. 

“Gambling’s pervasive growth into our everyday lives has compounded the addiction affecting an increasing number of Connecticut residents," Hwang said. "It is troubling that Connecticut continues pursue gambling as a unreliable revenue source without understanding the devastating societal and personal ruins that gambling addiction can cause in our community and our quality of life standards.”

Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Mary Drexler said, “Our goal here today is to share with you the activities the Council has planned, to educate all CT residents on the risks of gambling activity. The current funding for problem and underage gambling services is insufficient and minuscule when compared to the enormous revenue generated from legalized gambling.”

The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling is a private, not-for-profit organization affiliated with the National Council on Problem Gambling. Its mission is to reduce the prevalence and impact of problem and pathological, or compulsive, gambling on individuals, families and society, representatives said. 

The HELP hotline that offers counseling, support and intervention is 1-888-789-7777.

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