New Mexico Survey - Casinos and Teens

"NEW MEXICO SURVEY OF GAMBLING BEHAVIOR 1996" REPORTS THAT HIGH PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 HAVE MAJOR GAMBLING PROBLEMS.

"37% OF THOSE IN THIS AGE GROUP DID REPORT SOME PROBLEMS, WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS BEING REPORTED BY12% OF THOSE UNDER AGE 21." P. 15.

"THE YOUNGEST AGE GROUPS REPORT THE MOST PROBLEMS DUE TO GAMBLING." P. 15.

IN 1992, HOWARD J. SHAFFER, DIRECTOR OF THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL CENTER FOR ADDICTION STUDIES, PREDICTED, "WE WILL FACE IN THE NEXT DECADE OR SO MORE PROBLEMS WITH YOUTH GAMBLING THAN WE'LL FACE WITH DRUG USE." THANKS TO EXPANDED GAMBLING IN NEW MEXICO, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE MOVING RAPIDLY IN THAT DIRECTION.  MANY PROPONENTS  OF GAMBLING DEFEND THEIR POSITION BY SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD DEMONSTRATE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT "NO ONE IS FORCING THEM TO GAMBLE," BUT TEENS AREN'T RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND, DESPITE THE SANCTIMONIOUS PROTESTATIONS THAT THE LAW WILL NOT PERMIT TEENS TO GAMBLE IN THIS STATE, EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN NATION-WIDE THAT WHEN THE CASINOS GET BUILT, "THEY WILL COME." AND THEY WILL COME IN HUGE NUMBERS.