Bill Marcotte

At the advent of commencing a new level of care for persons experiencing compulsive gambling, I would like to acknowledge the responsiveness to this issue by the Province of Ontario, and specifically the Ministry of Health and Long- Term Care’s Acute Services and Community Health Division. In the thirty years of being in the Human Services field, I can honestly say that this is the first social problem area which has been addressed using a rational funding formulae which responds directly to issues of accessing service.

The research is growing in the area of problem gambling and Windsor Regional Problem Gambling Services is proud to be able to contribute to this body of knowledge. What is learned locally is a benefit to people across Ontario, Canada and internationally. The two-year residential service being piloted in Windsor and three other communities in Ontario, in collaboration with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Toronto) will assist to develop "best practice" models of care for the field. The approach to care in each location will have variations, and all will be reviewed individually and collectively to provide a common theme to be used in future guidelines and practice.

“Building on existing knowledge is critical. Many examples include:”

• In 2001-2003, we learned that suicides linked to problem gambling were significant across all Provinces. Our local pilot project has enlisted the services of psychiatrist Dr. Barry Miller to assist in identifying, assessing, and stabilizing persons who present serious risk.

• In 2003, we have learned that modeling treatment approaches for pathological gambling after preexisting substance addiction models is not enough. Clinicians must consider introducing techniques specific to distortions in thinking specifically related to gambling.

• In 1994 – 2005 we have consistently learned that financial resources and debt is the greatest concern expressed by gamblers, including the post-treatment phase. Windsor Regional Problem Gambling has provided an on-site swing office for Credit Counselling Services of Southwestern Ontario, to increase access to a problem-solving approach which does not include the elusive "chase".

In closing, I want to publicly acknowledge the hard work afforded by the program’s Manager Nick Rupcich and his counselling staff, for all of the planning and development which preceded the opening of the pilot program this month. Bill Marcotte, Director of Operations Mental Health, Addictions, Geriatric Support Windsor Regional Hospital

Bill Marcotte,
Director of Operations
Mental Health, Addictions,
Geriatric Support
Windsor Regional Hospital

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