Melrose launches youth gambling prevention effort

Melrose Health & Human Services announced Oct. 21 a new effort to prevent gambling-related harm among young people, working with Melrose Public Schools, youth, families and community partners.

The town cited Massachusetts Department of Public Health data from 2025 showing that 44% of Massachusetts high school students and 49% of middle school students reported gambling in some form in the past 12 months. The effort is funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and takes what the town describes as a public health approach.

The work began with youth surveys, focus groups and community engagement to learn how young people experience gambling, gaming and sports betting, according to the announcement. That information will help shape prevention strategies.

Ongoing efforts in Melrose include collecting local youth gambling and betting data, engaging youth in prevention messaging campaigns and peer outreach, educating parents, coaches and educators, providing financial literacy and mindfulness programming with the city's Recreation Department, creating educational materials, and strengthening connections to problem gambling screening and treatment resources.

The town said the goal is not simply to tell young people not to gamble, but to build skills, support, coping strategies and trusted relationships that help them make healthier choices.

Residents seeking help can call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 800-327-5050, a free, confidential and multilingual service available 24/7, or use [the helpline's online chat](MAProblemGamblingHelpline.org). A new mobile support tool called Evive is also available at no cost for iOS and Android.

Source: Town of Melrose announcement, October 21, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.