At the CCGNJ, we take great pride in our work. Our dedication to educating the public about gambling addiction and providing support, treatment and hope to problem gamblers manifests in many ways: Our confidential, 24/7 gambling help hotline, events that we host to spread awareness, and resources available both online and throughout the state, to list a few.
One of the events we look forward to the most every year is our yearly conference. In just under a week, we will commence our 35th Annual Statewide Conference on Disordered Gambling.
Every year, we invite any professionals working in fields related to gambling to our conference. These professionals can range from mental health specialists to members of state gambling boards. On Friday, September 15th, we will all gather at the East Windsor Holiday Inn for a day packed with engaging and informative workshops and presentations.
We strive to ensure that our resources and educational materials reflect the most current research and most effective therapies. To that end, the theme of this year’s conference is “The New Frontier in Gambling Treatment.” Our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Marc Potenza, and Plenary Session leader, Dr. Alyssa N. Wilson, have both heavily specialized in the study and treatment of problem gambling.
Dr. Potenza founded and continues to serve as director of the Center of Excellence in Gambling Research at Yale University. As a board-certified psychiatrist, he has devoted his career to researching and understanding the physiological mechanisms behind gambling addiction and other disorders.
As the director of the applied behavior analysis programs at Saint Louis University’s School of Social Work, Dr. Wilson has likewise committed herself to the study and treatment of behavioral disorders. As an associate professor, she supervises and guides graduate students on clinical and translational research projects related to gambling addiction at the Saint Louis Gambling Addictions research Laboratory, which she created.
Other presenters and speakers at the conference include Sachin Karnik, Ph.D., LCSW, LCDP, CAADC, ICGC-II, Tony DeMarco, LL.B., J.D., Ph.D., DNGH, Jeffrey M. Beck, ICGC-II, BACC, J.D., ABD, and Jessica Alomar, LPC.
Not too long ago, science was not even aware that the neuropsychology of problem gamblers greatly mirrored that of people with substance addictions. Discoveries and innovations in gambling addiction research are made every day. Our yearly conference is the perfect opportunity to explore such research and share our experiences.
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey is a non-profit organization devoted to helping people addicted to gambling and their concerned loved ones. To reach out for immediate support, treatment and hope, or to learn more about us, call us at 1-800-GAMBLER or visit us at https://800gambler.org/.