Kids are wagering money in record numbers, gambling on everything from pool, dice and card games to sporting events and lottery tickets - seemingly unaware that there are risks associated with gambling, some serious enough to change their lives.
While the majority of adults who gamble do so for recreation with little or no adverse consequences, gambling can be powerfully addictive for some. And, similar to alcohol and drug problems, gambling disorders are more prevalent among young people than among the general population.
According to a recent study by the Harvard Medical School's Division on Actions, youth are twice as likely as adults to develop gambling problems. Youngsters experiment earlier and get hooked into gambling more quickly, many before age 11.
The North American Training Institute has developed an interdisciplinary gambling prevention curriculum for grades 3-8, called Kids Don't Gamble - Wanna Bet? Designed to be integrated with classroom studies in other areas, it includes an educator's guide, family/student handout booklets, overhead masters, take-home cards and a video that tells a real story about a boy who began gambling in high school, lost his college football scholarship and was convicted of a felony.
The curriculum price is $249, although several materials are sold separately. For more information call (888) 989-9234, or visit the Web site [http://www.nati.org/].
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