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“Gambling is a big problem in the Portuguese community”

Kenny Pavao is addiction counsellor at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Hospital. The Luso-Canadian has 28 years of experience with victims of addiction and underlines that gambling “is a big problem in the Portuguese community”.

Dr. Kenny Pavão

In an interview with Milénio Stadium, Pavao informed that most of the victims are ashamed to admit this addiction and ensured that the first step to treatment is when victims recognize that they have a problem.

Milénio Stadium: How many gambling addiction patients does St. Joseph’s Hospital treat?

Kenny Pavao: We try to educate patients about different kinds of addiction and gambling is one of them. It’s difficult to provide you numbers but sometimes we have 70 people daily, Monday to Friday.

MS: How can we recognize that someone is facing gambling problems?

KP: There are financial problems. If someone is gambling and they’re spending their paychecks, they don’t have money to pay their bills. Obviously, if you’re in a relationship or living with your family, you can have discussions and get mental health problems.

MS: Gambling addiction is covered by OHIP and affects all kind of ages?

KP: Any type of addiction is covered by OHIP, it’s an illness, you just need to have the health card. At St. Joseph’s our patients are adults, but there are specific agencies that deal with juvenile patients under 16 years old.

MS: Some of your patients are Portuguese.

KP: Addiction is a big problem in the Portuguese community. I’m sure it affects all kind of communities, but a lot of my patients are actually from the Portuguese community. I can’t give you numbers because this is only one unit but it’s an issue.The families are affected by the stigma of shame and don’t want to talk about it or even admit that there is a problem. Education and awareness are always a good thing because, unfortunately, a lot of people still think addiction is not an illness.

MS: Do you have any recommendations for someone that is dealing with gambling addiction or knows someone with this addiction? 

KP: The first thing to do is encourage people to take action – they have to admit that they have a problem. When they hide or minimize the problem, usually it tends to get worse. Addiction is a progression, it doesn’t affect everybody at the same level. We all know an addict, all families are affected by it. See their brother, sister, mother or cousin or somebody. We encourage people to help instead of punishing or judging.

MS: Canada can learn something with the Portuguese example?

KP: I think a lot of countries can learn something from Portugal. They have taken a different approach and moved to a medical model, not criminal justice. And I think most countries can learn something from that. Unfortunately, punishing does not help people with addictions. If anything, it just furthers their addiction.

Joana Leal/MS

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