The document discusses several social issues including addiction, gambling, and domestic abuse. It provides information on addiction in general and how gambling addiction in particular can develop due to the random chance of winning triggering a rush. Gambling addiction is associated with stress, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. The document also notes that domestic abuse may be linked to mental health issues, substance abuse, and lack of control.

1. Social issues
(Research and ideas)
Finlay Jackson

2. Ideas
• Smoking
• Drink / drug driving
• Addiction
• Gambling
• Fracking
• Deforestation
• Global warming
• Air pollution
• Domestic abuse
• Bullying
• Drug abuse
• Alcoholism
• Sexuality
• Homelessness

3. Addiction
Addiction is very broad topic, this is due to the fact that there is a wide range of
different issues that fit into this very broad social issue. Some of the main factors
that are responsible for addiction is a drive caused by a high or that of being
addicted to a substance.
As a result of this there are an indefinite amount of different addictions with;
gambling, alcohol, drugs and smoking just to name a few. The main issue with
this that when you become addicted to a product it is very hard to stop using it,
as a result of this it’s very prominent for addicts to develop problems surround
their addiction in later life.
Some clear signs that points towards an addictions is that as a dependency of a
substance / product, this is evident with issues becoming present when they are
with out it / them. Addiction is in most cases induced as a result of the use of an
external substance that stimulates your brain in a pleasurable experience though
positive reinforcement as a result of the pleasurable experience.

4. Gambling
Gambling is a massive issue in regards of the addiction community,
one of the main facts that has lead to this is as a result of the random
chance of winning, as a result of this you are likely to receive a rush
that is known to be highly addictive, this is known commonly causes
gambling addiction or problem gambling.
There are a wide range of different aspects that problem gamblers
share amongst each other, for example in most cases they suffer from
stress, anxiety, depression and a low self esteem.
It is also very likely that if you are a gabling addict that you will go to
prison at some point. This is evident by the fact that a lot of gamblers
have to use means such as theft and fraud in order to escape their
gambling debt.
Source:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/addiction/Pages/gamblingaddiction.aspx

5. Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse can have a wide range of different
influences from both males and females that might trigger
it. Some examples include the likes of mental health,
violent upbringing, drugs and alcohol, stress and a lack of
control are all suspected to be issues that can lead to
domestic abuse.
One of the main factors that coincides with domestic
abuse is that of addiction, for example the excessive use
of drugs, alcohol and positive reinforce, this is as a result
of the fact that the withdrawal symptoms that are
common with the consumption of addictive neurological
altering substances .

6. Final
I will be researching gambling, this is as I have had some
friends whom have had issues with this in the past, as a
result of this I will have a good source of primary data that I
will be able to acquire. There is also a large amount of data
already present on the internet, this will mean that I should
hopefully have a good advantage on this topic of interest
over any of the other options that I have stated as a result of
this. I also have a range of different design ideas that I wish
to be able to peruse with this task, not just creatively but
also in terms of my personal experience with this issue.
As a result of this I will ensure that I receive their opinions in
order to improve upon any of my work, thus hopefully
allowing for my completed media to be more appealing to
my target audience as a result of this.

7. Gamcare
GamCare is a help group based in the UK, They were established in the October of 1997 by Adrian Scarfe as a help line and
counselling service charity, they allow for free support and counselling with people whom need help with any gambling related issues
that might be present, such as addiction.
Their audience is very broad, this is evident by their education program is mainly aimed at a younger audience in order to teach them
the disadvantages of gambling, on the other hand they also have a support and counselling , this is done via the use of professional,
frontline services and free counselling in order to help problem gamblers, this includes issues such as relationships, health, work and
education.
The employees are also clearly empowered to commit to their work towards preventing and solving gambling related issues, this is
evident by the amount of updates that are done to their official site with how they have progressed though the week, via the use of
their news and blog area of their official website.
In terms of what is available on their site, they have a range of different media on offer that is related to gambling and addiction. For
example they have a; HelpLine, Netline and Forum for advice. They also have a help guide and assessment tool in order to assist with
self diagnosing if you have gambling issue. For media and reference they have a range of different news and information sources that
all can be reached via GamCare’s official site with a weekly blog being uploaded to it each week which displays the latest goings on
with-in the companies, including that of events and developments.
Not only are they useful for informing you about the issues that can occur with gambling, but also the correct methods that can be
taken if you want to not only prevent, but to also stop if you have one. As a result of this here are an arrangement of different options
that are available to take on their site, as well as the aforementioned options they also have a range of different quick courses that
will allow you identify an addict and the appropriate steps to take.
Source
Gamcare official - http://www.gamcare.org.uk/
Gamcare Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GamCare

8. Gamblers anonymous
Gamblers anonymous is an problem gambler group that was established on the 13th of September 1957, they follow a 12 step program that is aimed specifically at problem gamblers in order to tackle the issue that is problem gambling,
as well as to help solve the problems that have been caused as a result of their addiction. Their List of steps is questionable, this is as they have taken a very spiritual approach to tackling the issue of problem gambling, for example the
list states that:
1. We admitted we were powerless over gambling that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to a normal way of thinking and living.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of this Power of our own understanding.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral and financial inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have these defects of character removed.
7. Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having made an effort to practice these principles in all our affairs, we tried to carry this message to other compulsive gamblers.
On the other hand, GA have started taking more modern methods in order to help people with their addiction, one example is that of chat rooms and live calls, the use of these services allows fellow problems gamblers to take to each
other, as well as to professionals and ex-problem gamblers. Despite the reputation of being such a prominent service, gamblers anonymous has an 8% success rate with people that attend their meets and events, this could be a result of
their out dated program
Their audience consists of an older demographic consisting of a mixed gender, the majority of which are in a relationship, or have had social / debt issues as a result of their gambling issues. Despite this, from looking at their online
media by GA (Gamblers Anonymous) , they are targeting a male audience, despite the fact that they have a mixed group of members as problem gambling is an issue that can effect anyone. They also have a list of 20 questions of their
official website that are meant to evaluate if you are a problem gambler or not. This is quite a questionable method as a result of the fact that there is no real advice that is given from this questionnaire, apart from if you have answered
+7 of the listed answers as yes, they will recommend that you seek help.
Source
Gamblers anonymous official - http://gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
Gamblers anonymous Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamblers_Anonymous
Recovery (12 steps) - http://www.recovery.org/topics/about-the-gamblers-anonymous-12-step-program/

9. Gambling addiction help-line posters

10. Gambling
Broken down
Social
Gambling can put quite a stain on your social life, especially if you become a problem gambler. This can be as a result
of a multitude of different issues that certainly become present after becoming an addict, for example; gambling will
have an impact on your financial situation, this is due to the fact that gambling is made so that the odds are out of
your favour, because of this you are more than certainly going to have a loss. Becoming a problem gambler will result
in this particular issue becoming more serious.
Problem gambling
Problem gambling is the urge to keep gambling, despite the negative effects, as a result of this it is classified officially
as a psychiatric condition that should be treated, this is as a clear result of the links that are present between problem
gambling and that of other addictions such as with drugs, alcohol and other addicting substances and activities.
Addiction
Addiction is the act of having withdrawal issues when not consuming a certain product, some clear examples of this
includes the likes of drugs such as morphine ,crack cocaine and heroin. Some of the main issues that are present with
this is due to the fact that there are a range of different receptors and connectors in the brain that are weakened /
strengthened thus encouraging upon a positive reinforcement that is caused as a result.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_gambling