National Problem Gambling Awareness Week to be Recognized at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – National Problem Gambling Awareness Week will be recognized at The University of Alabama March 6-12. The week is a grassroots, public awareness campaign started by the National Council on Problem Gambling to educate people about responsible gambling and signs of problem gambling.

This campaign is being implemented by the UA Financial Health, Debt Management and Gambling Strategic Health Team, comprised of faculty and staff who focus on educating and modeling behavior that encourages responsible management of finances and lowering debt among college students. The team is one of seven strategic health teams striving to improve the UA community.

The team says that the issue of financial wellness is especially important in this time of economic stress, and that implementing this campaign is a vital step in preventing unwanted financial stressors for students.

“The focus of this year’s NPGAW national campaign is sports gambling,” says Dr. Michelle Harcrow, assistant director of health education and promotion at UA. “We feel that educating our students and faculty/staff on risks and consequences of gambling is beneficial and well-aligned with the objectives of the National College Health Association and the Healthy People 2020 Initiative.”

Throughout the week, information tables will be set up on campus with materials on the following: individuals with signs of gambling problems, rules of responsible gambling, myths and facts of problem gambling and remote gambling.

Information tables will be available at the Student Recreation Center on Monday, March 7, from 3-6 p.m. and at the Ferguson Center on Wednesday, March 9, from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. In addition to these tables, students and faculty may get other materials from the office of health promotion and wellness located in the Student Health Center.

For more information on the NPGAW national campaign, go to www.npgaw.org. For more information on the University’s implementation of the campaign, contact Harcrow at msharcrow@cchs.ua.edu or 205/348-3878.