Talking Addiction & Recovery Episode 138: Gift Responsibly & Too Young to Bet: Raising Awareness About Youth Gambling (featuring Julia Brunson)
In this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery, we are joined by Julia Brunson, Communications Manager at the National Council on Problem Gambling, about the Gift Responsibly Campaign — an annual initiative educating communities on the risks of giving lottery tickets to children. Julia shares how the campaign has evolved over the years, expanding from a lottery-focused effort to a broader movement that now includes community organizations and the new Too Young to Bet. Together, we explore why gifting lottery tickets to minors isn’t as harmless as it seems, how early exposure increases the risk of future gambling problems, and how the campaign uses positive, accessible messaging to drive awareness and cultural change. We also discuss this year’s updates, key deadlines, and how organizations can get involved before the November 26th registration cutoff for inclusion in the official press release.
About the Guest:
Julia Brunson joined the National Council on Problem Gambling in May 2022. In this position, she assists in the development of multi-channel content, manages social media accounts, and helps execute communications strategy across all NCPG digital channels. Julia is an experienced communicator with several years of marketing and development experience in a non-profit setting. She has a BA in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has received several leadership certificates and fellowships. She has a passion for all things digital and Gen Z. In her spare time, Julia enjoys writing, hiking, and browsing Tik Tok.
Links:
https://www.ncpgambling.org/responsible-gambling/gift-responsibly-campaign/
Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.
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Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.