334: Breaking the Stigma: Confronting Gambling Addiction in the Military with Mark Lucia
The Addicted Mind Podcast
Duane Osterlind, LMFT
4.8 • 621 Ratings
🗓️ 19 May 2025
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Mark Lucia, Director of Programming at the KindBridge Research Institute, brings his exceptional experience from being a special forces medic to mastering public health and behavioral health program design. Join us as we uncover the systemic barriers that hinder service members and veterans from accessing help for gambling addiction, a problem exacerbated by deeply ingrained institutional stigma. Mark’s relentless efforts to reshape policies and heighten awareness, evidenced by groundbreaking state-level campaigns in Colorado, are crucial steps towards fostering hope and healing within military communities.
Gambling is not just a pastime; within military settings, it reveals its darker side, with slot machines on overseas bases raising concerns about institutionalized gambling. The stigma surrounding mental health care in the military often prevents service members from seeking necessary support, driven by fears of negative career repercussions. This episode sheds light on the surprising prevalence of gambling addiction among veterans, encouraging a dialogue about classifying it as a health issue and finding the appropriate interventions.
In this episode, you will hear:
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Exploring the hidden epidemic of gambling addiction within military communities
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Insights from Mark Lucia on systemic barriers and stigma preventing service members from seeking help
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Examination of gambling facilities on overseas military bases and their impact on mental health
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Discussion on reclassifying gambling addiction as a health issue and necessary interventions
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Challenges faced by the Department of Defense in recognizing and addressing gambling disorders
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Highlighting successful awareness campaigns and policy changes led by Mark Lucia
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Episode Credits
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome back to the Addicted Mind podcast. |
| 0:07.6 | I'm your host, Dwayne Austerland. |
| 0:09.6 | Thank you for being here as we continue to explore the complex realities of addiction, recovery, and mental health. |
| 0:17.2 | Today we have an incredible, important episode with a guest whose work is transforming how we |
| 0:23.4 | understand and address gambling addiction in military populations. |
| 0:28.7 | Joining us is Mark Lucia, the director of programming at the Kind Bridge Research Institute. |
| 0:35.2 | Mark's unique background, which includes serving as a special forces medic and working |
| 0:40.0 | in public health and behavioral health program design, brings a powerful lens to this critical |
| 0:46.0 | issue. Now, at Cambridge, Mark works tirelessly to break down the deep systemic barriers that |
| 0:53.6 | prevent service members and veterans from accessing |
| 0:57.1 | help for gambling addiction. And with the institutional stigma, continuing to frame this disorder |
| 1:04.5 | as a disciplinary issue rather than a mental health concern, Mark's mission is urgent and necessary. |
| 1:11.6 | Whether through state-level campaigns like the one he's leading in Colorado or reshaping |
| 1:17.2 | institutional policies, Mark is creating real, meaningful change. |
| 1:21.6 | On this episode, we'll explore what needs to happen from culture to policy to make hope and healing a reality |
| 1:30.7 | for affected veterans and service members. You're not going to want to miss this conversation. |
| 1:36.4 | Mark's passion and dedication shine through in this interview. And I think you'll walk away |
| 1:42.5 | with a new perspective on the challenges |
| 1:45.4 | and the opportunities we face in addressing gambling addiction. So stay tuned for that. And if you're |
| 1:52.6 | enjoying the Addicted Mind podcast, please take a moment to leave us a rating or a review on your |
| 1:59.9 | podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more people |
| 2:03.7 | and have a bigger impact. And one more thing before we start. If you're in recovery and you're |
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