The New Jersey Department of Human Services is providing treatment and services to residents with gambling disorders through a series of state-funded contracts.
The Department of Human Services has announced that it is awarding $720,000 worth of state-funded contracts to six organizations across the Garden State. The state-funded contracts, which are for $120,000 each, have been awarded to three Legacy Treatment Services locations, Integrity Inc., Monmouth Medical Center and Eva’s Village, Inc.
“More than 90 percent of individuals with gambling disorders have a co-occurring behavioral health need, and the impact of these challenges affects families, workplaces, and our communities,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “Through these provider partnerships, we will widen the availability of mental health and substance use disorder providers in the state who also have the expertise to identify and treat gambling disorders.”
The organizations awarded with the contracts will use the proceeds to hire at least one full-time gambling disorder clinician who will be responsible for providing both treatment and case management services. The clinician will also provide tailored treatments to individuals with gambling disorders through assessments and psycho-education.
Patrons will also have access to resources, including Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
“This is about working more efficiently to reach people struggling with addiction,” said Health Services Deputy Commissioner Valerie Mielke. “By integrating gambling disorder services, we hope to bring co-occurring gambling disorder into the mental health and substance use disorder treatment network, so more people can get the services they need to support their recovery.”
Problem gambling suit in NJ
The state’s Department of Human Services is taking steps to combat gambling disorders as a New Jersey woman sues DraftKings for allegedly breaching the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. The woman claims in the suit that DraftKings knowingly coerced and enabled her estranged husband to spend more money with the platform than he had.
The plaintiff, Lisa D’Alessandro, also claims DraftKings facilitated her spouse’s gambling problem as he lost more than $940,000 wagering with the operator over the course of three years. D’Alessandro claims in the suit that her husband stole money from their child.
She is seeking the return of the money spent by her estranged spouse with DraftKings.
