Latest news with #EuropeanCrossCountry
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Recovering gambler urges others to not 'suffer in silence'
A recovering gambling addict is urging others to not "suffer in silence" as new official figures reveal that problem gambling levels in Northern Ireland remain at a similar level as before. Stephen Kerr said his addiction started when he was 15 years old, by 18 he was a "full-blown gambling addict". Two years later he was in a rehabilitation facility. "It started off small and just kept growing and growing, I've lost thousands," Mr Kerr told BBC News NI. Problem gambling is gambling which compromises, disrupts or damages the individual or their family, as well as their daily life and career. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of problem gamblers in the United Kingdom, based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). In 2024, 3% of respondents in Northern Ireland were considered to be a problem gambler, the Northern Ireland Research Agency (NISRA) has revealed. This figure is similar to that in previous years: in 2016, problem gambler levels in Northern Ireland were at 2% and 3% in 2010. Across England, Scotland and Wales, 2.5% of respondents in 2023 were found to be problem gamblers, according to the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). The PGSI assesses how prevalent problem gambling is within a population. It asks respondents to assess their own gambling habits over the previous 12 months. The questions are then scored and any total PGSI score above eight puts the individual in the "problem gambler" group. Mr Kerr, who was a champion runner for Ireland in the European Cross Country, has been recovering from his gambling addiction for more than 15 years. Despite rehab intervention, Mr Kerr, like many addicts, found himself battling multiple addictions including alcohol and drugs. In 2021 he sought further help from Cuan Mhuire which he credits with saving his life. Mr Kerr described gambling addiction as a "weird one" compared to alcohol and drug addictions because it can be so easily hidden. The 32 year old said that having good people around him has been key to his recovery. Going forward Mr Kerr said he would like to see greater support for those affected and encouraged women to talk more about gambling addiction to help address the stigma associated with the illness. "An addiction's an addiction, you're sick, you need help and once you reach out then you have to grab it with both hands." Mr Kerr has used social media to reach out and support people going through addiction. "Don't suffer in silence, reach out, but reach out to the right people, be it to gamblers anonymous groups or somebody going through recovery online. "Don't wait to hit rock bottom for every rock bottom is a trap door," he said. In 2024, 57% of surveyed adults said they gambled in the last 12 months, which is a decrease from the 2016 and 2010 survey, the Nisra study suggests. The most popular method of gambling in 2024 was in-person with National Lottery draw tickets being the most common gambling type. Despite new laws in 2022 allowing betting shops and bingo halls in Northern Ireland to open later on a Sunday, 89% of surveyed adults said they have never bet on a Sunday. The current laws contained in the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order date back to 1985 There is no single independent regulatory body for gambling in Northern Ireland Courts and councils license gambling activities, the Department for Communities is responsible for track betting licences and enforcement lies with the police The 1985 order predates the development of the internet and therefore contains no provisions relating to online gambling NI consumers are offered some protection through laws in Great Britain There are also no provisions requiring the gambling industry in NI to make any contribution to funding support services for problem gambling NI laws were last updated in 2022 to allow for extended opening hours for bookmakers and bingo halls 'We went to the bookies after school until doors shut' 'Strong support' for NI gambling regulator Gambling laws 'could have saved our son's life'
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NI gambling: Recovering addict urges others to seek support
A recovering gambling addict is urging others to not "suffer in silence" as new official figures reveal that problem gambling levels in Northern Ireland remain at a similar level as Kerr said his addiction started when he was 15 years old, by 18 he was a "full-blown gambling addict". Two years later he was in a rehabilitation facility."It started off small and just kept growing and growing, I've lost thousands," Mr Kerr told BBC News NI. What is problem gambling? Problem gambling is gambling which compromises, disrupts or damages the individual or their family, as well as their daily life and Ireland has the highest rate of problem gamblers in the United Kingdom, based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).In 2024, 3% of respondents in Northern Ireland were considered to be a problem gambler, the Northern Ireland Research Agency (NISRA) has figure is similar to that in previous years: in 2016, problem gambler levels in Northern Ireland were at 2% and 3% in England, Scotland and Wales, 2.5% of respondents in 2023 were found to be problem gamblers, according to the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). What is the PGSI? The PGSI assesses how prevalent problem gambling is within a asks respondents to assess their own gambling habits over the previous 12 questions are then scored and any total PGSI score above eight puts the individual in the "problem gambler" group. Mr Kerr, who was a champion runner for Ireland in the European Cross Country, has been recovering from his gambling addiction for more than 15 years. Despite rehab intervention, Mr Kerr, like many addicts, found himself battling multiple addictions including alcohol and drugs. In 2021 he sought further help from Cuan Mhuire which he credits with saving his life. 'Don't wait to hit rock bottom' Mr Kerr described gambling addiction as a "weird one" compared to alcohol and drug addictions because it can be so easily 32 year old said that having good people around him has been key to his forward Mr Kerr said he would like to see greater support for those affected and encouraged women to talk more about gambling addiction to help address the stigma associated with the illness."An addiction's an addiction, you're sick, you need help and once you reach out then you have to grab it with both hands."Mr Kerr has used social media to reach out and support people going through addiction."Don't suffer in silence, reach out, but reach out to the right people, be it to gamblers anonymous groups or somebody going through recovery online."Don't wait to hit rock bottom for every rock bottom is a trap door," he said. What else did the statistics reveal? In 2024, 57% of surveyed adults said they gambled in the last 12 months, which is a decrease from the 2016 and 2010 survey, the Nisra study most popular method of gambling in 2024 was in-person with National Lottery draw tickets being the most common gambling new laws in 2022 allowing betting shops and bingo halls in Northern Ireland to open later on a Sunday, 89% of surveyed adults said they have never bet on a Sunday. What are NI's gambling laws? The current laws contained in the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order date back to 1985There is no single independent regulatory body for gambling in Northern IrelandCourts and councils license gambling activities, the Department for Communities is responsible for track betting licences and enforcement lies with the policeThe 1985 order predates the development of the internet and therefore contains no provisions relating to online gamblingNI consumers are offered some protection through laws in Great BritainThere are also no provisions requiring the gambling industry in NI to make any contribution to funding support services for problem gamblingNI laws were last updated in 2022 to allow for extended opening hours for bookmakers and bingo halls
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Griggs missing indoor season after freak injury
Tyrone athlete Nick Griggs' conspicuous absence from the current indoor season is because of a freak knee injury that has required twice daily doses of intravenous antibiotics during a two-week hospital 20-year-old is scheduled to leave Musgrave Park Hospital on Friday. His knee trouble began when he was knocked to the ground while waiting at a congested startline before the Under-23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya on 8 immediately got up and went on to finish a brilliant second as he clinched a third successive individual medal at the European Cross Country after the race, the Ireland athlete began to experience pain in his knee and while he attempted to combine training with medical assessments and treatment over the next couple of weeks, he had to stop running a couple of days after Christmas and hasn't run since then."He obviously just ran on adrenaline in Antalya and ran brilliantly," Griggs' coach Mark Kirk told BBC Sport NI. "But after a series of scans and various appointments, it was eventually determined that he had essentially an infected kneecap. The medical condition is called Osteomyelitis and it can be very serious."The pain got to the extent that he couldn't drive to get a scan at one point and he was struggling walking up the stairs or even walking." Griggs back on an exercise bike With oral antibiotics and painkillers not improving Griggs' situation, a decision was taken just over two weeks ago that he would be admitted to Musgrave Park Hospital."Thankfully, the intravenous antibiotics have finally led to an improvement and Nick was able to sit on an exercise bike for a couple of 20 to 25-minute cycles this week, which was the first exercise he had done in six weeks," added outstanding form last summer when he clocked huge 3,000m and 5,000m personal bests and also bettered his 1500m time, led to him earning spots at the two premier US indoor meetings, the New Balance Games and the Millrose Games, but getting well again instead became his priority. "Nick is making good progress now but he's going to have to continue getting oral antibiotics for another four weeks so we're just going to have to see how things go."Joining our group of athletes for a training camp in the French Pyrenees in April is probably a target for him but we're just going to have to see how it pans out."
