The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Problem Gambling Program, East Carolina University’s Gambling Research and Policy Initiative and Birches Health have partnered to launch a problem gambling initiative, offering state residents a gambling disorder treatment based on data analysis.

North Carolina residents who need help with gambling addiction or are struggling with mental health issues resulting from gambling will receive virtual therapy from licensed clinicians at Birches Health, a New Jersey mental health provider that provides nationwide virtual gambling addiction treatment. The GRPI will access data from the program to research problem gambling and develop specialized counseling tailored to individuals’ needs.

“We are honored to contribute to the groundbreaking research undertaken by the GRPI in direct partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Problem Gambling Program,” Elliott Rapaport, founder and CEO of Birches Health, said in a news release. “We believe this initiative will pave the way for best-in-class gambling disorder treatment and guide clinical outcomes for programs nationwide, ultimately leading to a reduction in gambling-related harms.”

The NCDHHS Problem Gambling Program offers treatment to residents regardless of whether they have health insurance.

“We are thrilled to support our partners at GRPI and Birches Health in launching this first-of-its-kind problem gambling metrics-based telehealth treatment pilot program,” Amanda Winters, NCDHHS’s problem gambling administrator, said in a news release. “Initiatives like this are essential to guaranteeing North Carolina residents have access to the highest-quality treatment and resources.”

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