Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Elderly and gambling

TRACK 1:

Walking along the famous Las Vegas Boulevard?tourists are standing outside of restaurants with alcoholic drinks in their hands?vendors are passing out cards for pleasurable activities and people are gambling in the casinos. It's a fun time for them. But the thrill of gambling is dangerous for some senior citizens with nothing but free time. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control says Nevada's suicide rate is three times higher than the national average for senior citizens? Some experts say the problem is related to gambling addiction.

ACT: O'HARE (:14)
In CUE: "we provide the public awareness..."
OUT CUE: they know exactly where they can go.

TRACK 2:

That's Carol O'Hare. She's the Executive Director for Nevada's Council on Problem Gambling. Her office sits outside of the main strip beside an old train track carrying oil refinery tanks Through her office window there's a side view of the Rio, Mirage and Flamingo hotels. At her organization, people with gambling addictions, call or walk in asking for help. She says senior citizens don't come to her office as much as she would like them to.

ACT: O'HARE (:15)
IN CUE: We have a growing population of senior citizens
OUT CUE: difficult for them to acknowledge their weakness.

O'Hare says gambling is an attractive form of entertainment for senior citizens who may be immobilized with physical illnesses and are dealing with reduced incomes. They can socialize in casinos with other seniors in a secure environment. But, O'Hare says the gambling environment can also be risky for them at a time they're experiencing major life changes.

ACT: O'HARE (:23)
IN CUE: Maybe they have retired in life and no longer have the job to go to?.
OUT CUE: In becomes a way to soothe the changes in life rather then just have entertainment.

ACT: MAJORIA (:15)
IN CUE: I started using it as an escape?
OUT CUE: machines are very mesmerizing

TRACK 3:

That was Majoria -- a member of Gamblers Anonymous. She asked us not to use her last name. She?s sitting on a bench outside of a casino hotel, with her walker perched beside her. Clenching it, she says this is the closest she's been to a casino in all most a year. Her addiction was so severe she was staying out all night gambling. She even sold some of her property to play the slot machines. But Marjoria says she realized something was wrong when she no longer trusted herself.

ACT: MAJORIA (:12)
IN CUE: I have a step daughter who gambles also.."
OUT CUE: well I think I have a problem.

TRACK 4:

Majoria says at her lowest point she thought about suicide. Being penniless at 74 years-old was not an idea she could live with.

ACT: MAJORIA (:13)
IN CUE: So I bought a gun.."
OUT CUE: myself with that gun her sold me.

But when the time came for her to pull the trigger her friend came to mind.

ACT: MAJORIA ( : 11 )
IN CUE: The thing that stopped me the person that got me the gun
OUT CUE: if I killed myself with that gun he sold me he would not get over it.

TRACK 5:

The problem of seniors committing suicide because of gambling addiction has caught the attention of Nevada's Senior U-S Senator. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has introduced the Stop Senior Suicide Act, to get funding for Senior Citizens who struggle with this addiction. Reid's Communications Director -- Jon Summers says the Senator has dealt with the suicide issue personally.

ACT: SUMMERS (:17)
IN CUE: Suicide at any age is a tragedy
OUT CUE: This is an issue in which Senator Reid has had first hand understanding.

Summers says other Senators are expressing interest in supporting the Stop Senior Suicide Act. The bill still has to take a journey through the committee process. From there it could go to Senate floor for a vote.

OUT: FOR NEXT GENERATION RADIO, I'M TAMIKA SMITH IN LAS VEGAS.