I recently attended the NCAA's in-service on gambling and sports wagering in Indianapolis. Sadly, I was the only representative from Division III there. Lest you think that's not important, here's a statistic that opened up the morning session: More Division II and III athletes are involved in sports wagering than Division I athletes.

The Task Force on College Gambling Policies published a report from the Harvard Medical School outlining the serious issues college students have with gambling. And the NCAA has taken notice. Its campaign, "Don't Bet on It," is receiving a great deal of human and financial resources as the organization tries to stay ahead of a nation that has fallen increasingly into gambling as a way to solve state budget issues.

The report is a sobering look at how, as college administrators, we have created resources for preventing drug and alcohol abuse but are ignoring the problem right under our noses: students are gambling at an alarming rate and they don't have to leave campus to do so. In fact, some colleges hold Poker and Texas Hold'em parties as ways to keep students from drinking. Are we trading one addiction for another and not realizing it?

The most striking statement of the report comes in the Executive Summary: According to a national survey, nearly half of college students gambled during the past year, wagering on the lottery, casino games, cards, and sports.

Later in the morning, two former student athletes took the stage, one a high profile Division I basketball player, the other a field hockey player. One was male, the other female. One was black and from an urban area, the other was white and from a rural state.

Both got hooked on gambling after doing socially acceptable betting. The basketball player was betting who could get the highest score on a video game, and the field hockey player was going with her mother to the local Bingo halls. Each told of how their addiction to gambling grew in college and after, causing massive disruptions in their lives, including jail time, bankruptcy, and homelessness.

Every college and university needs to work hard at addressing these issues. Because of their competitive nature, student-athletes are more vulnerable to gambling addictions. They believe that just one more bet will get them over the hump, just as one more work out will make them a champion. It's a dangerous game for them and for us.

Here are a few of the recommendations from the Task Force: