Tennessee's state gambling hot line has expanded its hours and is operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The hot line, 1-800-889-9789, refers people who have a problem with gambling to the nearest treatment programs and support groups. Friends, family members, or anyone else who needs information can also use the hot line.

"Gambling addiction is a significant public health problem," Dr. Stephanie Perry, assistant commissioner for the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, said in a prepared statement. "It is associated with health problems, financial ruin, criminal activity and incarceration."

More than 155,000 Tennesseans are problem gamblers, or participate in gambling behavior that disrupts their lives, according to the University of Memphis Institute for Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation.

Another 64,743 are pathological gamblers, meaning they display an increased preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently and restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, among other problems.

In 2004, state lawmakers approved spending $200,000 to operate the hot line, provide free screenings to determine if people have a gambling addiction and offer counseling on a sliding-fee scale at many locations across the state. Information on all of these programs can be obtained by calling the hot line. Previously, the hot line was manned from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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