The NOCE Dose: The Opioid Crisis Unplugged

The NOCE Dose: The Opioid Crisis Unplugged Season 1

Podcast » S3 E7: Digital Tools, Human Connection: The Future of Gambling Recovery

S3 E7: Digital Tools, Human Connection: The Future of Gambling Recovery

What does gambling addiction really look like—and why do so many people struggle in silence?

In this episode of The Nostos, Bianca McCall sits down with Sam DeMello, Founder and CEO of eVive, to explore one of the fastest-growing yet least understood behavioral health challenges in America. Drawing from his own recovery journey, Sam shares how gambling quietly evolved from a childhood hobby into an addiction that impacted every aspect of his life, and how that experience inspired him to build technology that connects people to support before they reach crisis.

Together, Bianca and Sam discuss the hidden relationship between gambling, substance use, financial distress, and suicide risk; why traditional support systems often miss the people who need them most; and how digital health tools can lower barriers to care without replacing the human relationships that make recovery possible.This conversation challenges common misconceptions about gambling addiction while highlighting the power of lived experience, personalized support, and community-centered innovation.

Guest: Sam DeMello, Founder & CEO, Evive, Digital Health Innovator, Community Advocate

Sam DeMello is a technology leader and digital health entrepreneur transforming gambling harm reduction through innovative, user-centric solutions. As founder and CEO of Evive, Sam brings a unique combination of personal lived experience through his own recovery from gambling addiction and a technology-first approach to addressing one of the most overlooked public health challenges facing the United States today.

Episode Resources:

Evive App – getevive.com
Contact Sam Demello: sam@getevive.com
National problem gambling helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER, recently rebranded to 1-800-MY-RESETS
OnDemand Video: Intersection of Gambling and Opioid Use Disorder
OnDemand Video: Signs and Symptoms of Substance Misuse and Problem Gambling

Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only. Any advice offered on the podcast is an educational context and is not intended as direct medical advice, nor as a replacement for it. If you are experiencing a medical or life emergency, please call 911. If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273 – 8255. If you are experiencing stress, and would like professional help please contact your insurance company to identify a therapist in your area or contact the organization you work for and ask about an employee assistance program.

Funding for this activity was made possible in whole or in part by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director’s Office through the Fund for a Resilient Nevada, established in Nevada Revised Statutes 433.712 through 433.744. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this podcast are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence or its funders.

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