Problem Gambling - Outreach and Prevention
Addiction Services of Thames Valley has developed innovative and original programs and strategies for both outreach to problem gamblers and for prevention and education. In the past 10 years since the inception of the problem gambling program we have worked diligently to educate persons of all ages in the Thames Valley area about the reality and the risks of gambling.
In fact our efforts were written up and published in Newslink, an international magazine concerned with problem and responsible gambling. We have also shared our creative efforts at provincial and international conferences.
Problem Gambling - Know More Gambling
This is an exciting video car race game that can be used in multiple environments e.g. schools, home, counselling sessions, youth groups. The game is fun, educational and uses a youth friendly medium to teach about signs and symptoms of problems, odds, risks, myths and more. The game was developed in partnership with mindyourmind.ca, an international award winning website focusing on mental health/high risk behaviors for young people. The game and manual can be purchased. Please email us at helliott@adstv.on.ca for more information.
To play the game click here
Older Adult Ambassador Program
Through our specialized funding for adults 55+ we have created an Ambassador Program where older adult volunteers offer presentations to older adults in the community. These peer to peer presentations are free and we are willing to come out to any group of older adults whether it be a senior's club or centre, a church group, a service club, a retirement residence .. wherever older adults gather. The tone is friendly and fun and interactive. Please call the Problem Gambling Intake Line at (519) 673-3242 ext. 234 to book an appointment.
Oxford County Billboard Campaign
In an effort to raise awareness of our services in Oxford County we have a year long billboard campaign happening in Woodstock, Ingersoll and Tillsonburg. We want people to know that we have satellite offices in these three municipalities.
Click here to look at the billboard.
In the past 4 years:
| • | 2 million Patrons have seen our prevention ads which ran between movies at the Rainbow Cinemas in London. |
| • | We had a fully painted city bus with 100 interior bus ads. We had a billboard campaign in London, Woodstock and St. Thomas. 60 people with gambling concerns sought our help after seeing the bus or billboards. |
| • | Our Youth Awareness and Outreach Presentations have been delivered to 25,000 youth and young adults. We work in partnership with the Thames Valley District School Board in grades 5 and 10 offering in class interactive presentations. |
| • | We became the first problem gambling agency to participate in the Racing Against Drugs Event which is sponsored by the RCMP and offered in both Elgin and London-Middlesex Counties. 5,000 grade 5 kids played our new Know More Gambling video game with lots of enthusiasm. |
| • | We have been present with interactive displays at University, College, Secondary and Elementary School Health Fairs. |
| • | We have had 169 media exposures (print, radio, TV) locally, provincially and nationally. |
| • | We have an outreach poster program about hold'em poker in residences at University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College. |
| • | Over 300 presentations have been offered to community groups. |
| • | About 82,000 pamphlets and newsletters on problem gambling have been distributed. Pamphlets and newsletters have different topics e.g. for kids, adolescents, teens, young adults, parents and caregivers, professionals. |
| • | Thousands of prevention teaching tools such as fridge magnets, educational scratch tickets, responsible gambling mini-buses, and responsible gambling commitment cards have been distributed. |
Wherever You're At .. We Can Work With That
Here are a few pictures of some of our efforts:
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Ready or Not, Give Us A Call
If you or someone you know has a concern about gambling, please call our confidential gambling intake line (519-673-3242 ext. 234) or click helliott@adstv.on.ca to e-mail our gambling intake worker. Feel free to contact us by email to learn about our current groups.
