Dear Ann Landers,
once heard you say that gambling is just as much a disease as alcoholism. I think my husband has the illness. He keeps denying it, although I haven't seen his paycheck for seven weeks. (It's a good thing I have a job.) What are the symptoms of a compulsive gambler? How does one tell? -Wish I Knew for Sure

Dear Wish,
Gamblers Anonymous, an extremely effective organi-zation that operates along the same lines as AA, has prepared these 20 questions. If you answer yes to more than seven, your husband is a compulsive gambler. Here they are-and please keep in mind that women can have the sickness, too. Does he lose time from work because of gambling? Is gambling making his home life unhappy? Is gambling affecting his reputation? Has he ever felt remorse after gambling? Does he ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or to otherwise solve financial difficulties? Does gambling cause a decrease in ambition or efficiency? After losing, does he feel he must return as soon as possible and win back his losses? After a win, does he have a strong urge to return and win more? Does he often gamble until the last dollar is gone? Does he ever borrow to finance gambling? Has he ever sold any personal property to finance gambling? Is he reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures? Does gambling make him careless of the family welfare? Does he ever gamble longer than planned? Does he ever gamble to escape anxiety or personal problems? Has he ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling? Does gambling cause him to have difficulty in sleeping? Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create an urge to gamble? Does he have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling? Has he ever considered self-destruction as a result of gambling? Most loved ones of compulsive gamblers will answer yes to seven or more of these questions. For more information, contact: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. General Service Office 475 Riverside Dr. 11th Floor New York, NY 10115 870-3400 Al-Anon Family Groups (for family members affected by alcoholism) 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway Virginia Beach, VA 23456 (800) 356-9996 Narcotics Anonymous P.O. Box 9999 VanNuys, CA 91409 (818) 773-9999 Gamblers Anonymous P.O. Box 17173 Los Angeles, CA 90017 386-8789 Parents who want more information on inhalants can call the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at 1-800-269-4237. We have to eat to live, but for some of us, eating is not so simple. For those with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia or gross overeating, food can be life-threatening: