Lane County Public Health works to prevent and reduce gambling harms in our community. While most people who gamble are able to do so recreationally; some people find that they are not able to stop gambling, even when it negatively impacts their lives, jobs, and relationships.
Disordered gambling is often called the “hidden addiction.” The good news is that there are ways we as a community can come together to provide hope and help to those struggling with gambling. We are also beginning to include video gaming addiction prevention in our work as the connections between video gaming and gambling increase.
Our Mission
- Raise awareness about the risks of gambling.
- Teach how to set healthy and protective limits when gambling.
- Help our communities to better understand the impact of gambling harms on individuals, families, and our communities.
- Help residents of Lane County to better understand what gambling addiction looks like and how to access help for those struggling with gambling.
How We Help
- Provide training to community members, groups, businesses, and agencies about gambling and video gaming addiction and their impacts.
- Offer technical assistance to establish work-place and community gambling prevention policies.
- Provide awareness education through Take A Break Toolkits and youth-focused presentations.
- Create and promote educational materials for individuals, families, and communities to help better understand potential gambling and video gaming harms and how to prevent them.
Understanding Gambling & the Brain
To learn more, including responsible gambling tips and signs of gambling addiction, visit the Oregon Problem Gambling Resource.
GamAware Coalition of Lane County
Gambling & Video Gaming Addiction Awareness
We are comprised of people with lived experience, affected others, public health & non-profit professionals, and treatment providers. Our efforts have a focus on public awareness, education and policy.
- Increase community awareness that gambling & video gaming harms are preventable and treatable public health problems
- Bring Take A Break Toolkits to community events to teach about the brain science of addiction and ways people can add small mental health supports into their lives
- Present to the public about potential gambling and video gaming harms while promoting protective factors
- Advocate for local and statewide policy changes
We meet monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month from 3:45-5pm. Join by phone, video, or in person in Eugene). All are welcome to join monthly or stop by as a guest. For more information about PGAC, contact Natalie Taylor