Gambling Addiction Examined

For many, it's already a favorite past-time...

Buying a lotto ticket in the store, scratching it off in the car, then going back in to buy more.

Here at EZ Mart repeat buyers are becoming the norm on only the second day.

"I've had one lady that's been in here since six o'clock this morning," says cashier Lawanda Robinson.

Experts say it can be easy to get carried away with it... and sometimes it can develop into a problem.

Substance abuse counselor Bill Wilson also treats gamblers...and he says the rush creating by repeatedly winning sums of money can be similar to drug use.

"People who have had a co-dependency like cocaine have said it's about as close to a cocaine high as you can get," says Wilson.

The state is rapidly training 12 counselors to deal with the problem across the state....as one to three percent of all lottery players are expected to develop gambling addictions.

Wilson says there are several warning signs to watch out for...

He says you might have a problem...

*if you're losing time from work to play...

*losing time from school...

*you family finances are affected...

*if you're gambling to pay off debts

*or if you're borrowing or stealing money to pay..

While it can all be fun and games... he says there is one sad reality.

"Gamblers have the highest suicide rate among anyone who deals with any type of addiction," Wilson says.