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Brave News World
a magazine with a point of viewFall 2005
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cover about alcohol caffeine drugs food gambling media nicotine sexual shopping work
Adults Only?
Gambling isn't just a grown man's game
Think that gambling is an adult addiction?
According to a survey by the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, 8 out of 10 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 have gambled within the last year with another 1/3 say they gamble at least once a week.
Gambling for young people begins innocently with afternoon poker games with friends, and sports betting. However, participation in sweepstakes, 50-50 drawings and casino nights by parents and other family members provide teenagers with a stamp of approval.
So when young people see adults they respect engage in these activities, they are liable to deem them acceptable; therefore, when an opportunity to gamble presents itself, they are often more open and accepting of it.
Although gambling is illegal for persons under 18, young people can still find ways to feed their addiction. Willing adults buy lottery tickets and promises the minor "a piece of the winnings" while others bet on sporting events or card games.
Gambling addiction in youth can result in the same negative impact as with adults, such as hindrance of learning and school performance to mental and physical health. These factors may lead to criminal or other anti-social behaviors.
» Top of this pageWin, lose to gamble | Adults only! | Recognizing a young gambler | Six types of gamblers
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Brave News World magazine is produced for the Web by students in the course Online Journalism JRN 410 led by Professor Anthony Curtis, Department of Mass Communications, University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The issue theme, cover, sections and pages were designed by students in the course and article topics were chosen and reported by the individual students who wrote them. The students hold the copyright for their individual creations of articles and images. We are grateful to those agencies and institutions that have graciously provided other images for this edition. Views expressed by individual writers in this magazine are not endorsed by the professor, the department, the university, or possibly anyone else. Your comments are welcomed by the professor who may be contacted via e-mail at acurtis@uncp.edu or by phone at (910) 521-6616.