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The Gambling Addiction Crisis No One Is Prepared For
From Heroin Addiction and Jail to 15 Years Sober | Doug’s Recovery Story
di Carlsbad Beach Recovery
Gambling has changed dramatically. What once required a trip to a casino or a call to a bookie is now available on your phone 24 hours a day—and people are developing devastating problems faster than ever. In this episode of the CBR Podcast, Bobby and Rob sit down with gambling addiction experts Marc Lefkowitz and Deborah Buhaj to discuss the rapid rise of sports betting, the targeting of young adults, gambling-related suicide risk, and why so many people don’t recognize their behavior as an addiction until they’re already in crisis. Learn more about SBS here: https://stopbettingsports.com/ Marc brings nearly 30 years of experience as a gambling counselor and 43 years of personal recovery. Deborah is a gambling addiction therapist and the founder of Stop Betting Sports, a national prevention and education initiative. They discuss: Why sports betting can become addictive so quickly How gambling affects the brain like substance use Physical and emotional gambling withdrawal symptoms The connection between gambling, trauma, and mental health Why chasing losses keeps people trapped How advertising and influencers normalize dangerous behavior The role families can play in recovery What effective gambling addiction treatment actually looks like Gambling addiction is treatable. If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships, mental health, or ability to stop, you don’t have to face it alone. Learn more about Carlsbad Beach Recovery: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/ This episode discusses suicide, self-harm, and addiction. If you’re in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
At 29 years old, Doug’s opioid addiction had progressed from prescription painkillers to heroin, drug dealing, jail, and a moment when he no longer cared whether he lived or died. Now, after 15 years sober, Doug shares how he rebuilt his life, became a leader in the addiction treatment field, and helped others—including Bobby—find lasting recovery. He also explains why getting through treatment is only the beginning, how spirituality shaped his recovery, and why learning to handle everyday life is essential to staying sober. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, reaching out for help could be the first step toward a completely different life.
Rob shares how sports betting, online casinos, slots and day trading developed into a six-year gambling addiction that repeatedly left him in debt. He opens up about the 12-hour casino binge that became his final day gambling, the practical barriers that helped him stop and how helping others gave his recovery a new purpose. Rob and Bobby also discuss why gambling addiction is about more than money, how chasing losses takes over a person’s life and what specialized treatment can offer. Carlsbad Beach Recovery provides individualized outpatient treatment for gambling addiction with experienced therapists, case managers and recovery professionals. If gambling has become the center of your life—or you’re concerned about someone you love—help is available. Learn more about treatment at Carlsbad Beach Recovery: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/