OUR MISSION
The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling (the Center) is a program of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and funded by the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration. The Center promotes healthy and informed choices regarding gambling and problem gambling through public awareness, training and education, prevention, technical assistance to the behavioral health care system, peer recovery support, research and public policy. It does so by working closely with appropriate state stakeholders and bringing together experts from a variety of disciplines including psychiatry, medicine, epidemiology, social work, law and others.
NEED
For most people gambling is a form of entertainment. Few people realize that for some people gambling can become a devastating addiction, destroying families and relationships as well as negatively impacting careers. For some people, the addiction becomes so strong that it overtakes moral values and results in crimes to obtain more money for gambling. With more and more gambling opportunities becoming available in Maryland, it is essential for everyone to recognize the signs and symptoms of gambling problems and how to get help.