COM 0736.002 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A RESOLUTION URGING OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO OPPOSE ANY PROPOSED LEGISLATION LEGALIZING GAMBLING IN THE STATE OF HAWAII • WHEREAS, the residents of the State of Hawaii have consistently rejected all attempts • to legalize gambling because they recognize the economically devastating effects of such action to individuals and families; and WHEREAS, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (spgfoundation.org/) is adverse to legalized gambling and was formed in 1994 as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to protecting the health and economy of our nation. It remains a nationwide grassroots cadre of concerned citizens and compiles information on the adverse personal. social, economic and public health impacts of gambling and disseminates it to citizens and policy- makers at the local, state and national level; and WHEREAS, the social costs generated by addicted gamblers exceed the income benefits by at least $3 for every dollar going to governments when crime, poverty, healthcare, and all other costs are included (Politzer, Morrow and Leavey 1981; Better Government Association 1992; Florida Budget Office 1994). The National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling states • that gambling costs more than raising taxes, even for those who never gamble! Each compulsive gambler costs the economy between $14,006 and $22,077 per year. If 2% become addicted, that's $280 to $440 per year paid by every other citizen! (Grinols, Earl L., "Cutting the Cards and Craps, right thinking about gambling economics." P. 14.); and WHEREAS, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling comments that since gtunbling is highly addictive, legalizing it would increase the number of those addicted, particularly among young adults and risk- addicted individuals. Once gambling appears in a community, it brings a wave of addiction. In a mature gambling market, compulsive gambling typically seizes the lives of 1.5% to 2.5% of the adult population. Howard Shaffer of Harvard University, Addictions Department, (quoted by Kindt in "Managerial and Decision Economics" 22: p. 17 -63) states that: "Gambling is an addictive behavior, make no mistake about it ... Gambling has all the properties of a psychoactive substance, and again, the reason is that it changes the neurochemistry of the brain." The American Psychiatric Association says between I% and 3% of the U.S. population is addicted to gambling, depending on location and demographics (American Psychiatric Association, DSM -IV, P.673). Youth have even higher addiction rates, between 4 an 8% (Shaffer, H.J. & Hall, M.N. (1996) "Estimating prevalence of adolescent gambling disorders: A quantitative synthesis and guide toward standard gambling nomenclature." Journal of Gambling Studies, 12. 193 -214); and WHEREAS, the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous (gamblcrsanonyntous.org) states that compulsive gambling is an illness, progressive in its nature, which can never be cured, but can be arrested. Compulsive gamblers cannot accept the fact that he or she is in the grip of a progressive illness. These people have an inability or unwillingness to accept reality, are • emotionally insecure and immature; and •