The Impact of Gambling on Teens
Impact on our Teens
Crime
Impact on our Teens
Between 5 and 11% of the teenagers will become compulsive gamblers.
This is a a totally unacceptable number of teens who become compulsive
gamblers. Many of our youth who are ëat riskí at this time will turn
to gambling to provide money to purchase alcohol and drugs. Of those who
are identified as compulsive gamblers (see survey - attached) 25% surveyed
attempted suicide, 60% planned how they would commit suicide, 99% compulsive
gamblers commit crimes, 25% end up in the legal system.
Does Taos have a legal system that can presently handle this
many more cases? Does Taos have the sufficient resources in the DAís
office, enough judges, and enough space in the Juvenile Detention System
to handle the increase in crime?
More to the point on maintaining a healthy community, does Taos
have the mental health resources to cope with the disease of compulsive
gambling? In order to create and maintain a healthy, sustainable community,
we, as a community, must look beyond short sighted goals of money as a
result of any new business. Any new business must provide sustainability
for the community as well as for itself, without simply taking something
from the people for a very expensive ride with no contributions to
the community. Any business must be able to contribute more to the
community than a few small crumbs of money. It must be able to employ
people in creative endeavors, ones in which the product or service of that
business enhances the entire community.
All the studies of casinos and gambling show that the impacts are all
negative. The promise of tax revenues are offset by the cost to the
community for the added infrastructure needed to handle the increased
crime, loss of businesses, depressed housing markets and additional unemployment.
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