CT COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

by Margot Cahoon, Communications Director

On Thursday, October 20, 2011 The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling put on their Annual Conference at Water’s Edge Resort in Westbrook, CT.

I was joined at the event by fellow Mass. Council staff members Marlene Warner, Karen Sicher, and Amanda Poggenburg, as well as 180 other individuals interested in learning more about problem gambling. The location was just beautiful – I enjoyed watching the rolling and crashing waves from the windows of the resort.

We said hello to our colleagues in the industry and helped ourselves to the light breakfast. Afterwards, everyone in attendance was welcomed by Willie Coleman, Ph.D., Vice President, Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) Board of Directors; Marvin A. Steinberg, Ph.D., Executive Director, CCPG; and Mary Drexler, MSW, Assistant Director, CCPG.  

The conference’s morning discussion was entitled, “Gambling and the Criminal Justice System.” Expert panelists include: Attorney James McCray, Public Defender, Middlesex County; Attorney Susan Brown, Office of the Chief Public Defender; Donna Zaharevitz, Peer Counselor and Recovering Gambler, Wheeler Clinic; and the Honorable Judge Patrick J. Clifford, Superior Court, New London.  It was a fantastic panel and I was intrigued.  I found it very interesting to hear from the judge about all of the contributing factors that come into play as he determines sentencing. He talked about needing to balance understanding about addictive disorders with sending a message about breaking the law and justice for the victim. And all of the panelists seemed to agree that treatment for gambling problems was probably a more effective route than imprisonment, but felt that resources for adequate treatment services were not readily available in the state.

After the panelist shared their expertise, Dr. Steinberg presented the keynote Address, “Assessment of the Progress in Addressing Problem and Underage Gambling since the Introduction of Legalized Gambling in Connecticut in 1972.”  He shared 35-years of perspective and outlined landmarks of progress and suggestions for lifting barriers to prevent problem and underage gambling.”

During the lunch (which was delicious), the Connecticut Council presented Dr. Steinberg with a touching video tribute in honor of his upcoming 2012 retirement. Colleagues from across the country were featured telling Dr. Steinberg how much he had impacted their careers and their lives.

The afternoon agenda included a presentation by Lisa Najavits, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine; Lecturer, Harvard Medical School; Psychologist, VA Boston Healthcare System and McLean Hospital, entitled “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Problem Gambling.”

It was followed by another informative panel presentation in the afternoon entitled, “DigIn: a Statewide Project to Infuse Problem Gambling Awareness and Prevention into Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment.” Expert panelists included: Lori Rugle, Ph.D., DMHAS Problem Gambling Services; Tom Broffman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, ECSU, Consultant; Carrie Small, LCSW, Morris Foundation;  Antoinette Morgillo, , BS, MATS, Recovery Network of Programs; and Amy Sedgwick, MS, LADC, CCDP, SCPG, Program Director, MCCA.

Mass. Council Executive Director, Marlene D. Warner commented afterwards about what a unique, ground-breaking and successful project “DigIn” is, and that she hopes that the Mass. Council can learn from this project and eventually duplicate it in our own state.

All in all, a top rate conference from a top rate Council.

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