This document discusses problem gambling and its connections to other behavioral health issues. It notes that problem gambling affects around 2-3% of adults and higher rates among teens and young adults. Problem gambling is linked to higher rates of substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts. Around 70% of people receiving gambling treatment have current issues with tobacco or alcohol. Youth who gamble are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like substance use, delinquency and skipping school compared to youth who do not gamble. The document provides suggestions for prevention coalitions, including information dissemination, prevention education, alternative activities, and environmental/policy approaches based on strategies from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. It encourages coalitions to partner with

1. PROBLEM
Prevention TalKS
February 2, 2017
making the connections
Julie Hynes, MA, CPS
GAMBLING:

2. SUPERFAST15MINUTEObjectives:
• Why problem gambling?
• Understand basic connections between
problem gambling and other behavioral
health issues
• Integration: how does problem gambling
prevention fit with other prevention efforts?
• What prevention coalitions can do

3. Let’s be
real.
Time is limited.
Resources are limited.
Priorities are always an issue.

4. PROBLEM GAMBLING?

5. It’s a“Continuum”
No
Gambling Experimentation
Recreational Problem Pathological
Sources: 1. Moore (2016). 2. Volberg, Hedberg, & Moore (2008).
3. Shaffer & Hall (2001). 4. Northwest Survey & Data Services (2007). 5. Moore (2001).
Between 2-3% adults 18+ problem gamblers (2.6%)
Teens (13-17 y.o.): 6% at risk or problem gamblers 2
College age (18-24): 5.6% 3
At-Risk
“GAMBLING DISORDER”

6. DISORDERED
GAMBLING:
Clinical term for
diagnosis
(DSM-5)
Definitions

8. PROBLEM BEHAVIORS ARE
gambling
depression
substance use

9. Research shows they Have Common
Risk& ProtectiVEFactors
• Substance Abuse
• Violence
• Delinquency
• Teenage Pregnancy
• School Dropout
• Depression & Anxiety
 Problem Gambling??
Apparently similar risk
factors
Very high co-occurrence
between problem gambling
& other problem behaviors,
especially
alcohol/substance abuse
Catalano, Hill, Haggerty, Fleming, & Hawkins, 2010;
Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992

10. >70%
are current
tobacco users
32%
have current
alcohol problems
5%
actually attempt
suicide
Source: Oregon Health Authority, 2014
27%
experience
suicidal ideation
Have current drug
problems
Example– of those in Gambling Treatment:

11. YOUTH GAMBLING & Other RISKY behaviors:
3.1%
14.6%
29.5%
14.9%
30.9%
46.9%
Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 11
Did not gamble Gambled
ALCOHOL: 1.1%
6.2%
12.5%
5.1%
10.8%
18.7%
Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 11
Did not gamble Gambled
TOBACCO:
0.7%
8.3%
19.3%
4.3%
15.8%
28.4%
Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 11
Did not gamble Gambled
MariJuana:
5.7%
12.8%
22.5%
15.4%
23.0%
35.4%
Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 11
Did not gamble Gambled
SKIPPED SCHOOL:
Source: Oregon Student Wellness Survey, 2015-16
Past month

12. 7.2% 5.0%
11.3% 9.0%
Grade 8 Grade 11
Did not gamble Gambled
YOUTH GAMBLING & Other RISKY ISSUES:
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE:
SKIPPED SCHOOL:
Past year:
41.80%
22.40%
Gambled Did not gamble
DELINQUENCY:
Source: Oregon Student Wellness Survey, 2015-16

13. 5.6% college age (18-24)
2½ % all adults (18+)
4-6% teens (13-17)
This is the first generation of widely
available electronic gambling.
We really don’t know the effects yet.
Why?
Is it the
generation?
Technology?
Or what?
YOUNGER PEOPLE,
HIGHER RATES

14.  Being male, older teen
 Single-parent household
 Gambling on cards/sports
 Lower household income
 Competitive
 Having lost more than $50 in
a single month
 Started gambling before 8th
grade (early initiation)
 Parents who are
alcohol/substance abusers
 Parents who gamble*
Source:Volberg,et al (2008;bid).
Key RISK risk factors for YOUTH:
*TWICE as likely to be at-
risk gamblers & FOUR
TIMES as likely to be
PROBLEM GAMBLERS.

15. What is almost always
a key underlying issue?
about 90% of problem gamblers

16. GET INVOLVED?
A FEW
Ideas…

17.  Information Dissemination
 Prevention Education
 Alternative Activities
 Community-Based
Processes
 Problem Identification/
Referral
 Environmental/Policy
Approaches
A Common
Approach:
Uses the Center
for Substance
Abuse Prevention
(CSAP) Strategies
for Effective
Prevention

18. Video Contest & Art Search
• Great --& cheap!-- option for schools where
health curriculum not a possibility
• Ask art, media, A/V, drama teachers about
participating
• preventionlane.org/videos and
preventionlane.org/gambling/art
have examples, info
Coalition
members!

19. Social Media PROMOTION
• Websites, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
etc.
• Good reach
• Fairly inexpensive & easy to update!

20. Partnering with schools
• Casino night alternatives
• Asking administrators/teachers to add
simple language about gambling into
any drug or alcohol curriculum
• Provide schools with sample policies
(see student handbooks)

21. ReTAIL ASSESSMENTS &
REward and Reminders
Evidence-based
strategy effectively
used for alcohol and
tobacco retailers,
many of whom are
lottery retailers as
well!

22. TAKE-AWAYS:
• Problem gambling is an
issue needing attention.
• Coalitions don’t have to
add a whole bunch of new
work.
• Tangible projects are
best for most coalitions.

23. Thank You FOR what YOU do!
hynes@preventionlane.org
@hynesUO (Twitter)
PreventionLane
University of Oregon
National Council on Problem Gambling
@preventionlane
Let’s CONNECT!