Centerstone provide treatment for mental health and addictions.
They recently added treatment for gambling addiction at their Marion and Carbondale locations.
In October Centerstone received a grant of almost 200,000 dollars from the Illinois Department of Human Services to provide intervention and treatment to patients with gambling disorder and their families.
Clinical Manager Julie Bailey says the grant will be used to for public education, treatment and diagnoses for individuals and their families without insurance coverage and to train staff to be state certified.
“It prepares them to be able to deliver good quality care for these clients when they come in and are in need.”
In June the state of Illinois passed a gaming expansion bill that included sports wagering, gaming machines at racetracks and six new casinos, including one at Walkers Bluff.
Bailey says the abundance of gambling in the state can also lead to other problems like alcohol, drugs, depression, lying to hide losing money and worse.
“Individuals with gambling disorder have the highest suicide risk of all addiction disorders.”
Bailey says what sometimes starts out as fun can spiral out of control affecting their marriage, finances, and career, but they’re here to help.
“Help them understand the nature of their disorder and begin to receive the treatment they need in order to get better.”
