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Prison System's Lack of Problem Gambling Treatment Exposed
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA --
Coverage of a brutal beating suffered by ex-NBA referee Tim Donaghy has exposed a significant flaw of the US penal system. A psychologist who treats compulsive gamblers and is working with Donaghy to overcome his addictive gambling says there is no therapy involved in prison for problem gambling.
While drug and alcohol problems frequently receive therapeutic care in prison environments, no program exists for helping those led astray by compulsive gambling to help avoid repeating mistakes that ended in prison sentences. According to Arnie Wexler, inmates must find their own solutions or wait until release to get treatment.
Wexler is a psychologist who is in contact with Donaghy, who he says will seek help for compulsive gambling as soon as his prison term expires.
That may be sooner than expected, as Donaghy was severely beaten by a fellow prisoner claiming connections to the New York mob. The incident left the disgraced official with knee and leg injuries that will require surgery.
Prison officials say Donaghy, who is scheduled to move to a halfway house soon, may be released if his medical condition interferes with his incarceration. Then, perhaps he can get treatment for the medical condition that led to his arrest in the first place.
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