New York State Sen. Joseph Addabbo will host an online discussion on March 12, which is Gambling Disorder Screening Day, to help educate the public on problem gambling and provide information on available resources.

The meeting, to be held on Zoom, will allow participants to remain anonymous. Addabbo is partnering with the New York Council on Problem Gambling and Resorts World NYC Casino, with support from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

“For some, gaming is a casual pastime, but for others it becomes all-consuming, and they need help,” Addabbo said in a press release announcing the event. “As the Chairman of the NYS Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, I believe I have a responsibility to bring this event to the community for the public good and will always consider the issue of problem gambling a high priority when safely expanding gaming in New York. If we can help individuals from taking this preventable trip down the road to self-destruction, especially through early detection, then we have accomplished something important.”

Addabbo said the main goal of the event is to help spread the idea that gambling addiction should be treated as a medical issue.

Brain scans

Joining Addabbo will be Professor David Nutt, director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at the Imperial College of London and one of the world’s leading experts on addiction, according to the BBC and the University of Bath.

Nutt will show brain scans of people before, during, and after they place a bet.

“I am delighted to have this opportunity to share our research on the brain mechanisms underpinning gambling addiction, as they will help explain why it is so hard to break its grip and hopefully lead to new treatments,” Professor Nutt said in the release.

Other topics of discussion will include voluntary self-exclusion, signs of addiction, and screening for gambling disorder. Recovering addicts will also share their stories.

The program will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting ID is 867 9190 5653 and the password is 874928.

Photo: Lev Radin/Getty Images