• Speaking truth to power: what does it mean for you today?
• Join us at the QAAD Woodbrooke conference to share perspectives
• Spirituality and addiction

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On Tuesday, 22 November, the Salvation Army, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Methodist Church, the Evangelical Alliance and CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education) will give evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into gambling. Read on…

Parliamentary legislation has to take note of all views, with the alcohol and gambling industries strongly represented, before making decisions that affect us all.  What do we have to offer to that process?

Truth is not simple.  It is not a single pearl that can be found and treasured but more a shape that needs to be sought within all the complexities of life.  It needs to be found afresh for each age we live in.

Where do we find the truths for our own time; for our particular concerns with issues of use, misuse and addiction?  When we have carefully considered all the research, all the scientific evidence that we are presented with, then what remains at the still heart is the value of each human life.

How do we help to ensure that the welfare of the young, the vulnerable- and that may at times be any one of us – is considered by those whom we entrust to make decisions on our behalf?

Join us and some of our interfaith colleagues to share perspectives and explore ways forward.

All Friends are welcome, and you are invited to contact Helena Chambers or Woodbrooke if you would like further details.

• Benzodiazepines and dependency
• QAAD action

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• A world free from alcohol harm?
• SMART about recovery?
• A view on the drugs ‘war’
• QAADNET meeting

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Dealing with an addiction involves considering past, present and future.  How do we find the most useful balance between them?  The meeting will aim to support and inform us as individuals, close others, and workers/volunteers in the field – or simply as concerned members of our own communities.  Leigh  Rusling will reflect on different approaches and his own experiences of counselling in a variety of settings.  He will also share information about Aquarius’s new work with problem gamblers.

• ‘Stepping out of the Shadow’
• Rupert Booth of Oxford and Swindon Area Meeting discusses Jung and addiction

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The churches want local councils to have the power to limit the number of gambling premises in their areas.

Paul Morrison, of the Methodist Church, said: “The government must stop putting industry profit before prevention. Localism should mean that local councils have the power to regulate what happens in their communities and ensure it is to the benefit of all.”

Gareth Wallace, of the Salvation Army, said: “When we campaigned against many of the original proposals to liberalise gambling, we were very concerned that problem gambling would increase. Another key concern was the normalisation of gambling. There are now nearly half a million problem gamblers in this country. This is far too many and the Government must now commit to halt its plans to raise the stakes of gaming machines and permit arcades and bingo halls to expand in number.”

The comment comes in response to the Gambling Commission 2010 Prevalence Study.

The report showed there has been a small increase in the overall number of people gambling and those classed as problem gamblers has also risen.

Malcolm Brown, Director of Mission and Public Affairs at the Church of England, added: “Problem gamblers become sucked into a distorted view of reality and often drag themselves and their families into insecurity and poverty. This is not just a matter of personal morality and character, but a problem exacerbated by the values communicated by the wider social and policy context.”

In 2007 68 per cent of people gambled in the past year. This is compared to 73 per cent in 2010.  By one of the two research screens used, problem gambling rose from 0.6 per cent to 0.9 per cent.  It is estimated that there are between 360-450,000 problem gamblers in the UK – that’s compared to 284,000 in 2007.

Daniel Webster, of the Evangelical Alliance, said: “In tough economic times, it’s all too easy to place a bet as a quick fix answer to get a cash windfall. The reality is, only a small minority come out as winners. The big winners are the betting shops and casinos.”

Reverend Ian Galloway, Convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, said: “I’m deeply troubled by the level of problem gambling associated with gaming machines. This form of gambling is solitary and repetitive. These high value machines in betting shops turn every high street into a casino.”

In the past year nearly three quarters of the population took part in some form of gambling. If the National Lottery is excluded this figure would fall to 56 per cent but this is still higher than the 2007 figure of 48 per cent.

The report has found that problem gamblers are more likely to be young men, who suffer poor health and have a family history of problem gambling.

Helena Chambers, of Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, noted: “Problem gamblers and their families often suffer stress, ill-health and debt. It’s vital that they are supported, and the government does not risk any further increase.”

Due to government cuts the Gambling Commission suggested that this could be the last prevalence study of this kind.

Mr Wallace, from the Salvation Army, went on to say, “With increased problem gambling, the Government must fund another equivalent prevalence study and be committed to keeping track of the really serious cultural impact of gambling. This is not the time to be walking blindfolded into an increase in problem gambling.’

According to this report 14 per cent of people now use the internet to gamble, while problem gambling rates associated with online slot machine type games is among the highest.

Nola Leach Head of Public Affairs and CEO of CARE, commented: “This shows how essential it is that the government urgently develop a rigorous framework for ensuring that internet gambling is properly regulated.”

• Speaking truth to power: what does it mean for you today?
• Join us at the QAAD Woodbrooke conference to share perspectives
• Spirituality and addiction

Download this QAADRANT issue