In a bid to save the next generation from the clutches of addiction, guidance counsellors are joining forces with Rise Life Management Services to propose the introduction of a subject dedicated to under-age gambling prevention in the school curriculum.

Ian Grant, guidance counsellor at St Andrew Technical High School, having attended the most recent under-age gambling prevention seminar by Rise Life in partnership with sponsors Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), said the programme should be a part of schools’ curriculum because its methods transform the way students, particularly those at risk, think and see themselves.

“It is one of the greatest things we’re doing for them,” a BGLC news release quoted Grant. “It’s making a difference, more so in the long run, and certainly for a more holistic approach, the BGLC should be joined by other organisations to treat childhood addiction.”

“It is a need in all schools and should be mandatory for all counsellors, and it should be ongoing. It can’t be a one-off thing, and it’s especially needed at the beginning of a school year,” Grant added.

Head of the Guidance Counselling Unit of St George’s College, Lorrie-Ann Vernal, in welcoming the call to action, said it is imperative for schools to accept that childhood gambling is an issue which needs to be addressed.

“Given the school environment and the very aspirations, there are schools in denial just to save face, which really does not help,” the release quotes Vernal.

According to Jamaica Child and Adolescent Gambling Survey 2007, which was conducted by Hope Enterprise Limited on behalf of Rise Life Management Services, a growing gambling problem exists among young people between 10 and 19 years of age.

The study stated that one out of every five adolescents or basically 20 per cent of the population between the ages of 10 and 19 is either a problem gambler or is at risk of becoming one. Additionally, it revealed that children were spending up to $13,000 at gaming establishments and $10,000 on horse racing over a six-month period.

Rise Life stated last year that a follow-up study on adolescent gambling in Jamaica is currently being executed and will yield data for comparison and programme development.

Executive director of BGLC Vitus Evans, acknowledging the risks associated with gambling, particularly at a young age, said the organisation firmly supports the integration of an under-age gambling prevention programme into the school curriculum.

“Protecting our youth from the risks associated with gambling is crucial for fostering a healthier and more responsible future generation. We are committed to working alongside educators and our partner Rise Life Management Services to ensure that our children are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions,” said Evans.

Rise Life Management Services Programme Manager Richard Henry, in petitioning for the introduction of the programme, said that it will aid in keeping students who are not gambling away from gambling.

Rise Life says it intends to engage teachers’ colleges to address the issue before counsellors enter the teaching profession, as counsellors would be more enabled and equipped to meet the challenges.