‘Lottery fever’ could be harmful for gambling addicts

The record-breaking Powerball lottery has given many around the nation “lottery fever.” While for most the lottery is harmless fun, it could be harmful for people with gambling addictions.

With the Powerball reaching $1.5 billion by Wednesday’s drawing, KJ’s in Malad turned from a gas station convenience store to a lottery ticket factory.

For most, their confidence was beaming. Others were just trying their luck against big odds.

“You don’t really know (what will happen) until you get to that point,” lottery hopeful Naila Masih said. “Some chance is better than no chance at all.”

Brooke Hurt, counselor with Portneuf Valley Family Care, said buying even one $2 ticket could be as bad as going to a casino.

“You can relapse on any type of gambling,” she said. “Seeing that much money makes you go, ‘Oh, that would fix a lot of things,’ which is also why your typical person goes to buy a ticket.”

An addiction becomes a problem when it impacts other parts of your life, like financials and relationships. For at-risk addicts, having strong support is key.

In the case of the lottery, Hurt said recovering or struggling addicts “might ask somebody to control their money for them until the lottery situation is resolved.”

She also said it helps if recovering addicts have learned skills to deal with triggers through treatment.

The hotline for the National Council on Problem Gambling is 1-800-522-4700.

The Friendship Club in Pocatello hosts a Pocatello Gamblers Anonymous meeting on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.