For two decades, William Hinman had been an addict — first to alcohol, then to gambling.
But 10 years ago, he decided to get clean, and it worked. He’s now 52 and spending his days as a peer mentor at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, helping those out of the addictions that once defined his life.
The issue is, many of those seeking similar help today are far younger than he was.
Nearly one in five Maryland high school students have gambled in the past year, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In Garrett and Queen Anne’s counties, that rate is close to one in four.
