Mike Sciandra grew up around gamblers. It wasn’t long before he became one. He gambled for more than 20 years, declaring bankruptcy twice. He knew he had a problem, but it wasn’t until he entered treatment that he realized it was a gambling addiction.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear Sciandra tell his story to Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya. The interview was recorded as part of a story published this week on the state of gambling addiction in the U.S.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• ‘The next opioid epidemic’: Gambling legalization outpaces public health response to addiction
• Gambling addiction startup Birches Health to expand offerings, provider training under new clinical VP

If you or someone you know is struggling, contact 1-800-MY-RESET for the National Problem Gambling Helpline.