NEWS RELEASE
March 5, 2008

For more information, contact:
Dennis Fox
(618) 877-4420
www.chestnut.org

CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS SUPPORTS 5TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 9 - 15

Chestnut Health Systems is pleased to announce its support of the National Council on Problem Gambling’s 5th Annual National Problem Gambling Awareness Week taking place March 9th through the 15th. The goal of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week is a grass root effort to increase the public and professional awareness of problem gambling and the availability of services to assist those affected by problem gambling. Two to three percent of the population (approximately 6-9 million people) in this country has a gambling problem. Unfortunately, few will ever seek help or treatment.

With the full support of two Illinois casinos, Chestnut Health Systems will be hosting informational displays on Problem Gambling at the Alton Belle Riverboat Casino in Alton and the Casino Queen Riverboat in East St. Louis. This is the first time Illinois riverboat casinos have given space for informational displays on problem gambling as part of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. Chestnut will have gambling treatment staff available at each casino to answer questions from 11 am – 2 pm and 4:30 pm – 7 pm daily. Chestnut Health Systems provides gambling treatment, intervention, casino self-exclusion, and public speakers on problem gambling to Illinois organizations within an 85 mile radius of Granite City.

The National Problem Gambling Awareness Week is a collaborative effort sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling, the Association of Problem Gamblers Service Administrators, and state and local organizations nationwide. In Illinois, the Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Council on Problem Gamblers, Chestnut Health Systems, and other gambling treatment providers are concentrating their efforts to increase Illinois residents’ knowledge of the effects of problem gambling and how to access services.

With the full support of two Illinois casinos, Chestnut Health Systems will be hosting informational displays on Problem Gambling at the Alton Belle Riverboat Casino in Alton and the Casino Queen Riverboat in East St. Louis. This is the first time Illinois riverboat casinos have given space for informational displays on problem gambling as part of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. Chestnut will have gambling treatment staff available at each casino to answer questions from 11 am – 2 pm and 4:30 pm – 7 pm daily. Chestnut Health Systems provides gambling treatment, intervention, casino self-exclusion, and public speakers on problem gambling to Illinois organizations within an 85 mile radius of Granite City.

ABOUT CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS
For more than 35 years, Chestnut Health Systems has offered a broad array of behavioral healthcare services to residents in Central Illinois and the Metro East area fulfilling its mission of “making a difference: improving quality of life through excellence in service”. Known throughout the state as one of the leading providers of substance abuse treatment & prevention, mental health counseling & housing, gambling treatment, credit counseling, substance-abuse related research, training, and publications, and employee assistance & workplace services, Chestnut’s team of caring professionals now numbers close to 700 full and part time staff.

For further information on National Problem Gambling Awareness Week and problem gambling treatment, call Chestnut Health Systems at 618-877-4420 or visit our website at www.chestnut.org/gambling.