Youth Gambling and Youth Gambling and Problem GamblingProblem Gambling

Joanna Franklin MS NCGC IIJoanna Franklin MS NCGC IIMaryland Council on Problem GamblingMaryland Council on Problem Gambling

Jfranklin.ipg@gmail.comJfranklin.ipg@gmail.com

From a review by:From a review by:Jeff Derevensky PhD and Rina Gupta PhD Jeff Derevensky PhD and Rina Gupta PhD

McGill University, Montreal CanadaMcGill University, Montreal Canada

Gambling behavior can best be understood and Gambling behavior can best be understood and measured along a continuum of risk.measured along a continuum of risk.

The continuum ranges from no gambling to social The continuum ranges from no gambling to social gambling to problem and pathological gamblinggambling to problem and pathological gambling

While most of us gamble responsibly, some of us fail to While most of us gamble responsibly, some of us fail to control our level of playing, or are unable to stop and fail control our level of playing, or are unable to stop and fail to set and maintain reasonable limits.to set and maintain reasonable limits.

Problem gambling is a growing concern among children Problem gambling is a growing concern among children and youth.and youth.

Youth Gambling and Problem GamblingYouth Gambling and Problem Gambling

Youth Gambling and Problem GamblingYouth Gambling and Problem Gambling

No gambling Social gambling Problem

GamblingPathological

None

MildMild

ModerateSevere

Gambling Problems

Korn & Shaffer, 99

Brief Intensive

Treatment

Secondary Prevention

Primary Prevention

Harm Reduction

Public Health Interventions

Problem and pathological gambling have a number of Problem and pathological gambling have a number of concomitant negative personal, familial, social, economic concomitant negative personal, familial, social, economic and health consequences.and health consequences.

Prevalence rates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Prevalence rates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U. K. indicate about 80% of underage Zealand and the U. K. indicate about 80% of underage youth report gambling during the past year.youth report gambling during the past year.

4-6% experience severe problems and 10-15% are at 4-6% experience severe problems and 10-15% are at risk for the development of a severe gambling problem.risk for the development of a severe gambling problem.

Adolescent prevalence rates of problem gamblers are Adolescent prevalence rates of problem gamblers are greater than those of adults.greater than those of adults.

Adolescent problem gamblers report beginning Adolescent problem gamblers report beginning gambling at earlier ages, about 10 years of age.gambling at earlier ages, about 10 years of age.

Adolescents move rapidly from social gambler to Adolescents move rapidly from social gambler to problem gambler and report early gambling in the home problem gambler and report early gambling in the home and with family.and with family.

Gambling is more popular among males and more Gambling is more popular among males and more problem gamblers are males.problem gamblers are males.

Youth Problem Gambling Health and Social CorrelatesYouth Problem Gambling Health and Social Correlates

Psychological

Trauma/Abuse

Chaos/Neglect

AffectiveLability

DysfunctionalSelf-Object Relations

DysfunctionalCore Beliefs

Avoidance andOmnipotence

Inadequate Coping Skills

Self-Deception

Stress and Frustration Intolerance

Identity Confusion

Self-Soothing Deficits

OverIndulgent

EgoDeficits

IrrationalThinking

Pathological GamblingIllusion of control and fantasies of power and success. Allows escape from intolerable emotions.

Creates fantasied identity. Belief in gambling as only solution and escape. Reenacts trauma and loss with illusion of gaining control. Regulates affect. L. Rugle PhD

There are more adolescents engaged in gambling than There are more adolescents engaged in gambling than other potentially addictive behaviors.other potentially addictive behaviors.

Past Year Use %Past Year Use % Weekly Use %Weekly Use %Gr 7 Gr 9 Gr 11 Gr 7 Gr 9 Gr 11Gr 7 Gr 9 Gr 11 Gr 7 Gr 9 Gr 11

Alcohol Alcohol 36.8 62.2 79.8 7.4 14.0 20.236.8 62.2 79.8 7.4 14.0 20.2DrugsDrugs 3.5 13.4 26.5 2.7 2.1 9.0 3.5 13.4 26.5 2.7 2.1 9.0CigarettesCigarettes 18.2 34.5 48.4 7.0 16.1 31.4 18.2 34.5 48.4 7.0 16.1 31.4

GamblingGambling 79.1 78.9 83.4 30.4 37.4 37.179.1 78.9 83.4 30.4 37.4 37.1

Grade 7 (12-13 yrs.) Grade 9 (14-15) Grade 11 (16-17)Grade 7 (12-13 yrs.) Grade 9 (14-15) Grade 11 (16-17)

(Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a)(Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a)

About 4.2% of 12-17 yr. olds have an alcohol About 4.2% of 12-17 yr. olds have an alcohol

abuse problem.abuse problem. About 2.3% have an illicit drug abuse problem About 2.3% have an illicit drug abuse problem (NHS-DA 01).(NHS-DA 01).

Both are lower than the 4-6% of youth with severe Both are lower than the 4-6% of youth with severe gambling problems gambling problems (Gupta & Derevensky 98a).(Gupta & Derevensky 98a).

Problem and pathological gambling result in:Problem and pathological gambling result in: increased delinquency and crimeincreased delinquency and crime disruption of familial relationshipsdisruption of familial relationships decreased academic performance, higher truancy, poor gradesdecreased academic performance, higher truancy, poor grades higher rates of depressionhigher rates of depression higher rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attemptshigher rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts

Youth Problem Gambling Health and Social CorrelatesYouth Problem Gambling Health and Social Correlates

Adolescent gamblers have lower self-esteem compared Adolescent gamblers have lower self-esteem compared with other adolescents. with other adolescents.

Prone to engaging in multiple co-occurring addictive Prone to engaging in multiple co-occurring addictive behaviors (smoking, drinking, drug use/abuse).behaviors (smoking, drinking, drug use/abuse).

Have been found to have a greater need for sensation Have been found to have a greater need for sensation seeking and more likely to take risks and to be excited and seeking and more likely to take risks and to be excited and aroused while gambling.aroused while gambling.

Adolescent problem gamblers dissociate more frequently Adolescent problem gamblers dissociate more frequently when gambling.when gambling.

Youth Problem Gambling Health and Social CorrelatesYouth Problem Gambling Health and Social Correlates

Have poor general coping skills.Have poor general coping skills.

Have difficulty conforming to social norms and Have difficulty conforming to social norms and experience difficulties with self-discipline.experience difficulties with self-discipline.

Adolescents often fail to understand the risks or odds Adolescents often fail to understand the risks or odds associated with gambling.associated with gambling.

Youth Problem Gambling Health and Social CorrelatesYouth Problem Gambling Health and Social Correlates

Popular gambling among “regular” young gamblers is Popular gambling among “regular” young gamblers is dependent on developmental level, gambling opportunities,dependent on developmental level, gambling opportunities,

Accessibility, legal restrictions, and cultural factors.Accessibility, legal restrictions, and cultural factors.

Males: gamble on cards, sports pools, sporting events, Males: gamble on cards, sports pools, sporting events, games of skill.games of skill.Females: gamble on cards, lottery tickets, and bingo.Females: gamble on cards, lottery tickets, and bingo.

Lottery remains the most preferred gambling activity for Lottery remains the most preferred gambling activity for allall adolescent gamblers. adolescent gamblers.

Types of Gambling Popular Among YouthTypes of Gambling Popular Among Youth

Percentage of respondents reporting additional problems according to gambling severity (N=817)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

non gambler gambler NP gambler SP PPG

sought help for addiction

suicidal ideation

attempted suicide

(Gupta & Derevensky, 1998)* grades 7, 9, & 11

Data from the 2006 Oregon Healthy Teens Data from the 2006 Oregon Healthy Teens SurveySurvey

Jeff Marotta PhD

Problem Gambling Solutions Inc

•Districts within counties and schools within districts were randomly selected

•Surveys were administered to nearly one-half of Oregon’s 8th and 11th graders  •Information was collected from about 30,000 students

•Participating students came from 248 schools in 34 counties 

Method

The Question

Have you carried a handgun during the past 12 months?

0

5

10

15

20

25

Perc

ent

Carried a handgun 7.1 23.2 5.2 16.8

Nongambler, grade 8

Gambler, grade 8

Nongambler, grade 11

Gambler, grade 11

Were you in a physical fight during the past 12 months?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Perc

ent

In a physical fight 1.8 6.2 12.1 30.4

Nongambler, grade 8 Gambler, grade 8 Nongambler, grade 11 Gambler, grade 11

Have you attacked someone with the idea of seriously hurting them during the past 12 months?

0

5

10

15

20

25

Perc

ent

Attacked to hurt 8.3 22.7 5.7 15

Nongambler, grade 8

Gambler, grade 8

Nongambler, grade 11

Gambler, grade 11

Have you had beer or wine or hard liquor to drink during the past 30 days?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Perc

ent

Drank alcohol 26 48.7 41.3 60.3

Nongambler, grade 8

Gambler, grade 8Nongambler, grade

11Gambler, grade 11

Have you ever had sexual intercourse?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nongambler, grade 8 Gambler, grade 8 Nongambler, grade 11 Gambler, grade 11

Perc

ent

Students who gamble are significantly more Students who gamble are significantly more likely to participate in other risk behaviorslikely to participate in other risk behaviors

We know that high risk behaviors tend to cluster We know that high risk behaviors tend to cluster and gambling appears to fit within a risk and gambling appears to fit within a risk

behavior matrix behavior matrix

What Does This Data Mean?What Does This Data Mean?

More Plausible Interpretations . .More Plausible Interpretations . .

Gambling is one of many activities that carry risk Gambling is one of many activities that carry risk and should be addressed as such in school and and should be addressed as such in school and

community prevention effortscommunity prevention efforts

Gambling should be a signal to parents that they Gambling should be a signal to parents that they ought to be talking to teens about risky behaviors ought to be talking to teens about risky behaviors

including gambling including gambling

Implications

Few programs exist today.Few programs exist today.They have been aimed primarily at elementary and high They have been aimed primarily at elementary and high school students.school students.

These programs are generally lectures, printed curricula, These programs are generally lectures, printed curricula, videos and/or CD-ROMS.videos and/or CD-ROMS.

They vary from “scared straight tactics” to “show and They vary from “scared straight tactics” to “show and tell” to early intervention with a few true primary tell” to early intervention with a few true primary prevention efforts. prevention efforts.

Prevention InitiativesPrevention Initiatives

Current treatment paradigms for adolescent and young Current treatment paradigms for adolescent and young adults have in general been based upon a number of adults have in general been based upon a number of theoretical approaches and parallel those used for adults:theoretical approaches and parallel those used for adults:

Psychoanalytic, psychodynamicPsychoanalytic, psychodynamicBehavioralBehavioralCognitiveCognitiveAnd cognitive-behavioralAnd cognitive-behavioralPsychopharmacologicalPsychopharmacological Biological/geneticBiological/geneticAddiction-based and self-helpAddiction-based and self-help

Currently there is Currently there is nono consensus on what constitutes best consensus on what constitutes best practice standards for treating adolescents with gambling practice standards for treating adolescents with gambling problems.problems.

Treatment for Youth with Gambling ProblemsTreatment for Youth with Gambling Problems

National Council on Problem GamblingNational Council on Problem Gamblingwww.ncpgambling@aol.comwww.ncpgambling@aol.comUS National Helpline Service 800-522-4700US National Helpline Service 800-522-4700

Responsible Gaming Council of OntarioResponsible Gaming Council of Ontariowww.responsiblegambling.orgwww.responsiblegambling.org

McGill University Youth Gambling Research and McGill University Youth Gambling Research and Treatment ClinicTreatment Clinic

www.education.mcgill.ca/gamblingwww.education.mcgill.ca/gamblingygi@youthgambling.comygi@youthgambling.com

Minnesota Institute of Public HealthMinnesota Institute of Public Healthwww.miph.comwww.miph.comDeal Me In, Table Talk, Improving the Odds etc.Deal Me In, Table Talk, Improving the Odds etc.

Resources and ReferencesResources and References