Guest Voices Archive Index

Voices for Truth and Dignity, Inc.

Voices for Truth and Dignity, Inc., and Truth and Dignity Ministries exist to offer unprecedented support to victims of addicted gambler abuse.

The Facts:
The gambling addiction is unique. It, therefore, presents unique problems in the home. The result is traumatized, innocent adults and children.

An addict can fool almost anyone and lie consistently. Their outward behaviors and appearances are charming, but privately, quite the opposite. The addiction occurs very quickly, is highly progressive, and degenerative to brain functions. Logic, reasoning, begging, pleading, ultimatums, and intervention accomplish absolutely nothing. Over time, frequency of gambling increases along with money loss. This becomes the pathological stage of the addiction and the most dangerous to the addict and to victims. We have conducted years of study and research on behalf of victims, so we understand this addiction to be different from all others. In the beginning there may be similarities to other addictions, which explain why gambling is often mistakenly categorized as a substance abuse

Many addicts commit suicide, experience early senility, go bankrupt, leave their families destitute, and/or are imprisoned for many types of crime we now know are gambling-connected. A gambling addict intentionally inflicts control and fear tactics upon family members, causing instability and insecurity. The goal is to control, subjugate, manipulate, and put lives on a “roller coaster”. Their thinking is, ‘if people close to me are confused, afraid, and insecure, I can exercise control over them more easily, thus making the way clear to gamble that much more easy’.

If control and manipulation don’t work, they add physical abuse to the verbal, mental, and emotional abuse. Family members are afraid, live in very high stress situations every single day, know they are being betrayed, but are punished if they speak up or stand up for themselves.

So, what does that mean for innocent family members? Based on reported gaming numbers and our own statistics, we can estimate the number of addicts and corresponding number of victims. It is a fact that for every addict, there is one victim close to him or her. Two million gamblers attended seventeen casinos in Iowa during June, 2007: at one percent addicted, there is a minimum of 20,000 victims. Multiply that by number of family members, employers, etc.

Victims suffer from high blood pressure often leading to stroke or heart attack, PTSD, agoraphobia and other social phobias due to isolation, astounding lack of self esteem, carry guilt, blame, and burdens that don’t belong to them. Prolonged high stress also lowers the immune system allowing many different illnesses to invade their bodies. We have seen higher incidences of cancer because of lowered immune systems or lack of proper healthcare.

Now, apply what I just told you and think about teenagers and kids feeling and experiencing these devastating effects, as well. Teens may become addicted, too, are suicidal, or do poorly in school. Some are very supportive of the non-gambling parent and are determined to live a quality life. Little kids believe they’re to blame for the gambling parent leaving them behind, and become very fearful of the addict. The family must “walk on eggshells”, afraid of saying or doing something wrong. The addict will use any situation, comment, or remark as an excuse to walk out, or to exhibit raging temper. The addict refuses to contribute to the family’s needs financially unless they are “good enough” and don’t cause any trouble.

We recognize that these are victims, not enablers nor co-dependents. They must be treated with great sensitivity and gentleness. Our Program’s staff is currently made up of recovered victims who each believe they have a moral obligation to share what they know. We realize we possess experiences and knowledge that benefit many victims. We know the kind of specialized support these victims need and must have to recover and thrive.

Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry has been alerted to this tremendous problem plaguing not only Nebraskans, but the whole nation. We have asked him to put an authorization through Congress to insert verbiage into the NIH and SAMHSA regarding gambling addiction in its own category, and more importantly to introduce study and recognition of special needs for gamblers’ victims, whether adult, youth or child. We must also raise awareness in the physical and mental health fields, educational, law enforcement, our churches and synagogues, and neighborhoods. Victims are afraid of reaching out to mainstream counseling, because they are not well understood, and are afraid of repercussions from the addicts. We have to work together to make it safe for victims and to spread the facts - the truth - nationwide. We offer many services, including training of Program Certified Victim Advocates, set-up of our Program in interested communities, personal testimonies, and speaking engagements. Hopefully, we will soon be holding summits and forums to educate professionals and the public.

Because of our devotion to this issue, the Founder wrote our copyrighted Four Phase Recovery Program. We are convinced the status quo is not only inadequate, but passé. Mainstream ignorance of the facts actually enables addicted gamblers. Please join us so we may grow larger, go further and use our voices to get louder on behalf of victims. We have to be the victims’ voices for now, let them know we deeply care about them and convey hope to them. If you would like to volunteer for one of our many projects, or donate funds, your help is tremendously appreciated, and needed. All time and donations are tax deductible.

Charlene Trout
Voices for Truth and Dignity, Inc.
Truth and Dignity Christian Ministries
402-991-3222