As March Madness sets in, help is available in West Virginia for gambling addiction
Occasionally, gambling may become more than a social past time and may begin to interfere with the finances and emotional health of those who gamble.
Local WWII veteran, Purple Heart recipient dies at 98
Addictions experts say a preoccupation with gambling, making larger bets, chasing losses and a compulsion to gamble are all signs of a gambling addiction.
Roy Shrewsbury II, the vice-chairman of the West Virginia Lottery Commission, said there is help available in West Virginia for those who suspect they may be addicted to gambling.
'We have various options that you can use, one of them being to call 1-800-GAMBLER,' Shrewsbury said on Monday, March 17, 2025. 'That's a helpline to help you if you have gambling issues.'
Raleigh County Commission honors WWII veterans
Shrewsbury said the hotline provides a variety of resources and help.
In addition, he said that the West Virginia Lottery Commission can provide extra help by barring someone who is addicted to gambling from entering state gaming establishments for one year.
Shrewsbury directed those who need help to visit the West Virginia Lottery website if they have more questions about responsible gambling and resources for help.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Guatemala Syphilis Experiments — Unethical medical studies conducted by the US government in the 1940s, where researchers intentionally infected prisoners, soldiers, and mental patients in Guatemala with syphilis and gonorrhea without consent. Without the people's knowledge or permission, researchers deliberately infected hundreds of Guatemalan prisoners, soldiers, sex workers, children, and even mental hospital patients with syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases to test if antibiotics like penicillin could prevent or treat them. Many of the people were never treated, and some suffered serious health problems or died. These experiments were kept secret for decades and only became public in 2010, when the U.S. government formally apologized for the abuse and wrongdoing. Unit 731 — Japan's WWII biological and chemical warfare research unit that conducted live human experiments. 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Resignation Syndrome — A rare and mysterious condition where children, usually refugees, fall into a coma-like state after experiencing extreme stress or trauma — often related to uncertainty about asylum or fear of deportation. Children with this condition will stop talking, eating, walking, and responding to the world around them, as if they've completely shut down. It has mostly been seen in Sweden among children from war-torn countries. Recovery can take months or even years, and often begins once the family's asylum situation becomes more secure. Necrotizing Fasciitis — Also known as 'flesh-eating bacteria,' is a rare but very serious bacterial infection spreads rapidly and is often fatal. Necrotizing fasciitis spreads quickly and destroys the body's soft tissue, especially under the skin. It's sometimes called a "flesh-eating disease," though the bacteria don't actually "eat" flesh — they release toxins that kill tissue. 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