Jill's story

My son, who is nearly 25, has a good job, degree, nice car, good-looking, talented at sport, lots of good friends – all good apart from gambling. He says that he doesn't have a problem.

From the age of 18, he has had his debts paid off repeatedly – credit cards, bank overdrafts, they keep on giving him more money ... I am powerless to stop him or stop the financial people giving him more money to gamble.

His father, who left when he was eight years old, keeps in touch, only through gambling – taking him to dog racing – what can I do, just wait until my son realises that he has a problem?

At the moment, I feel absolutely helpless, upset  I have spoken to my son, he said that he would like to move out at the first opportunity, that is fine, but how would he do that with his debts?