<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=bold-content width="5%"></TD><TD class=content width="95%"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=content width=532 colSpan=3>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=content width="5%"></TD><TD class=bold-content width="20%"></TD><TD class=content width="75%"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=content></TD><TD class=bold-content>Source:</TD><TD class=content>Canada Safety Council</TD></TR><TR><TD class=content></TD><TD class=bold-content>Published Date:</TD><TD class=content>Dec 13, 2004</TD></TR><TR><TD class=content colSpan=3>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=content></TD><TD class=bold-content vAlign=top width=532 colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD class=content></TD><TD class=content vAlign=top width=532 colSpan=2>No one knows exactly how many compulsive gamblers end up taking their own lives in Canada. The Canada Safety Council believes the number is likely somewhere between 180 and 360 a year. For every suicide, five gamblers with self-inflicted injuries could end up in hospital. Gambling addiction is also linked to a range of other serious personal and social harms such as bankruptcy, family breakup, domestic abuse, assault, fraud, theft and even homelessness. The Canada Safety Council believes strategies are urgently needed to reduce deaths, injuries and other harms resulting from the expansion of gambling. As with other safety issues, there will be no magic bullet. Solutions will involve a combination of measures, including public education, preventive use of technology, counseling and treatment programs, well-enforced regulations - and above all, a strong social commitment to prevent gambling addiction. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>