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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1975)
Stakes high in Gamblers Anonymous groups By Tom Hinrichs . Lincoln soon will have a chapter of Gamblers Anonymous, according to Howie Berger. Berger was a member of Gamblers Anonymous in his home state of New York and is directing a radio, television and radio publicity campaign for the Gamblers Anonymous group he hopes to start here. Two New York gamblers started Gamblers Anonymous in 1957 and since then the group has spread throughout the world, Berger said. Gamblers Anonymous was formed to help the compulsive gambler rid himself of his addiction to gambling. Members attend weekly meetings where they tell how gambling has disrupted their lives. They help each other to quit betting, Berger said, and phone other members when they want to gamble. The person who wants to bet calls another member who tries to discourage the bettor. Phone calls are made to fellow members until the urge to gamble subsides, Berger said. Desire to quit The only requirement for Gamblers Anonymous is a desire to quit gambling, Berger said. Gamblers Anonymous members come from all walks of life but men far outnumber women, he said. About 80 per cent of Gamblers Anonymous members are men. Berger said that 999 out of 1,000 Gamblers Anonymous members are gamblers who have lost money. The compulsive gambler has a desire to lose, he said. Curiosity Berger pointed out the distinction between members of Gamblers Anonymous and people who come to a few meetings: "Most people who attend the first meeting are coming out of curiosity. Some gamblers come with the idea of getting money to pay off debts or gamble with. Members don't receive any money from Gamblers Anonymous." If a member has large debts, an official of Gamblers Anonymous will attempt to contact the person's creditors and help him set up a payment schedule. The payments recieved by creditors are small, such as five dollars per week, no matter what the person's financial situation is. The debt is kept lingering intentionally, to remind the gambler of his weakness and to reinforce his desire to quit gambling. Creditors usually accept the payments as they are offered, Berger explained. Inability to set limits Berger said the main problem with gambling is the inability of the person to set a limit for himself and stick to it. The amount of money bet can range from the weekly grocery money to millions of dollars, Berger said. When a person cannot walk away from the tables or the track he needs help, he said. According to Berger, some members of Gamblers Anonymous, including himself, have undergone psychological treatment to help them stop betting. But, he said, Gamblers Anonymous is the only treatment that has proven effective in the treatment of compulsive gamblers. Gamblers Anonymous is the only group that deals exclusively with problems of compulsive gamblers, he said. Attending meetings does not guarantee a cure. About 20 per cent of the people who join Gamblers Anonymous quit during the first three or four months, Berger said. But he added they are always welcomed back if they choose to return. riiriin-fiTrig''M ii!.iiiumiiiminiwiii..jiuiiiiiuj.uiii iwi.mu.ijuumuiiiii.ii " afcriftlll Mlinm NimlMrtnl.f n-nin.mlmi ti i.ah m v m i ,,,,1 y,,.,.,,.. W Celebrate The Grand Opening Of: Bleu Jay Way's Lower Level with the greatest bong special ever offered in this area. To make this Cadillac of the herbal world affordable at a mud cheap price they will be dissappearing at cost Friday and Saturday Don't Miss it Upper level will be helping the lower level celebrate the never ending completion of Bleu Jay Way. with a Jewelry Sale: plus-earrings earrings and more earrings ' 24" high Extruded polymer r!n tourquoise, stoneware, dishes, T-shirts, greeting cards, screens, pipe parts, spoon rings, spoon bracelet, imported jewelry, spiritual iky incense, Lod Krishna incense, excelsior incense, olfactory incense, Indian incense, Chinese incense, domestic incense, cone incense, stick incense, posters, chockers, macrarnae, hangers, natural wood jewelry, shell jewelry, stone jewelry, big pots, little pots, planters, pottery, silk screened wall graphics, art prints, papers, bongs, water pipes, small pipes, large pipes, wood pipes, metal pipes, antler pipes, onyx pipes, alabaster pipes, glass pipes, walnut boxes, dried flowers, peacock feathers, bedspreads, tapestries, rugs, necklaces, pendant, silver rings, beaded earrings, hoop earrings, dangle earrings, post earrings, bracelets, big earrings, little earings, etc. etc. etc. Nickel Plated Brass Bowl Bleu J 118N rf-"- """'Ttrmr mn nm , ay Way Sliding Bowl 1 4 th Counter weighted base Suede the originator of low paper priori I 1 !; , 0V ill 1 .1 ! 'i I : i.fy' doily ne Editor-in-chief: Wes Albers. News Editor: Dave Madsen. Managing Editor: Rebecca Brite. Associate News Editor: Randy Gordon. Layout: Mary Beth Grange. Sports Editor: Larry Stunkel. Entertainment Editor: Greg Lukow. Night News Editor: Bill Garthright. Chief Photographer: Ted Kirk. News Assistant: Betsie Amnions. Entertainment Writers: Vince Boucher, Susan Edwards, Sharon Johnson, Dave Ware. Sports Staff: Scott Jones, Becky Morgan, Steve Taylor, Pete Wegman. Columnists: Joe Dreesen, Rick Johnson, Bruce Nelson, Amy Struthers. Artist: Ron Wheeler. Photographers: Steve Boerner, Kevin Higley. Copy Desk: Christie Cater, Stan Linhorst, Ann Newberry, Ron Ruggles, Felicia Marshall. Business Manager: Jerri Haussler. Advertising Manager: Ken Kirk. Production Manager: Kitty Policky. Sprtnnd C'a? Po?t8; p?id 9t LiPlrf N?brkS; Address: The Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34, 14th and R Sts., Lincoln, Neb. 68508. Telephone 402-472-2588. The Daily Nebraskan is published by the Publications Committee on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through the autumn and spring semesters, except on holidays and during vacation. Copyright 1974, the Daily Nebraskan. Material may be reprinted without permission if attributed to the Daily Nebraskan, excepting material covered UNION ART LENDING LIBRARY Opens 10:30 Saturday, January 25th Numbered tickets wl be distributed starting at 9:30 am Check out your print earkj One print for the semester is free to you wRh your ID. Only 1 I.D. per person please & n n teem a, -onuaiA mm k B.a v 3 Ha CW o r uTJODIT Got a hairstyle. mtethLPHe8Hnal3. aJ El Toro- Trained in the Roffler whi ledat?? ,t0 hairstyling excellence. That's ThrL LnT ,he Nebraska Hairsiyiing Champions for KnWJSl?.,TE.iT!d that's why you',f set an 477-5221 FOR APPOINTMENT I Toro 1 kf"D', W Barbr Shop IV' "t 208 NORTH 13 page 2 daily nebraskan Wednesday, january 22, 1975