Transcript Derevensky - DSpace

Prevention of youth gambling problems:
Some important considerations
Jeffrey L. Derevensky, Ph.D.
Rina Gupta, Ph.D.
Laurie Dickson, M.A.
Anne-Elyse Deguire, M.Sc.
International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and
High-Risk Behaviors
McGill University
www.youthgambling.com
Involvement in addictive behaviors
Total use
Alcohol
Drugs
Cigarettes
Gambling
Gr 7
36.8%
3.5%
18.2%
79.1%
Gr 9
62.2%
13.4%
34.5%
78.9%
Weekly use
Gr 11
79.8%
26.5%
48.4%
83.4%
Gr 7
7.4%
2.7%
7.0%
30.4%
Gr 9
14.0%
2.1%
16.1%
37.4%
Gr 11
20.2%
9.0%
31.4%
37.1%
(Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a)
Nomenclature Hodge-Podge
(Winters, 2001)
Problem Severity Continuum
Is Youth Problem Gambling
A Primary Disorder?
Alcohol
Dependence
Conduct
Disorder
ADHD
Problem
Gambling
Other
Disorder
Depression
Drug
Dependence
Our current state of knowledge
concerning youth gambling problems….
• Gambling is more popular amongst males than
females (Derevensky, Gupta & Della Cioppa, 1996; Fisher, 1990;
Govoni, Rupcich, & Frisch, 1996; Griffiths, 1989; Gupta & Derevensky,
1998a; Jacobs, 2000; Ladouceur et al., 1994; NORC, 1999; NRC,
1999; Stinchfield, Cassuto, Winters, & Latimer, 1997; Volberg, 1994,
1996, 1998; Wynne et al., 1996)
• Probable pathological gamblers are greater risktakers (Arnett; 1994; Breen & Zuckerman, 1996; Derevensky &
Gupta, 1996; Nower, Derevensky & Gupta, 2000; Powell, Hardoon,
Derevensky, & Gupta 1999; Zuckerman, 1979, 1994; Zuckerman,
Eysenck, & Eysenck, 1978)
• Adolescent prevalence rates of problem gamblers are
2-4 times that of adults (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a; Jacobs,
2000; Shaffer & Hall, 1996)
• Adolescent pathological gamblers have lower self
esteem compared with other adolescents (Gupta &
Derevensky, 1998b)
• Adolescent problem gamblers have higher rates of
depression (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a,1998b; Marget, Gupta &
Derevensky, 1999; Nower, Derevensky & Gupta, 2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers dissociate more
frequently when gambling (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998b;
Jacobs, Marsten & Singer, 1985)
• Adolescents with gambling problems, ages 14-17,
are at heightened risk for suicide ideation and suicide
attempts (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a)
• While adolescents with gambling problems report
having a support group, old friends are often replaced
by gambling associates (Derevensky, 1999; Gupta, 1999;
Gupta & Derevensky, 2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers remain at increased
risk for the development of an addiction or
polyaddictions (Gupta & Derevensky,1998a,1998b; Kusyszyn,
1972; Lesieur & Klein, 1987; Nower, Derevensky & Gupta, 2000;
Winters & Anderson, 2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers score higher on
excitability, extroversion, and anxiety & lower on
conformity and self-discipline (Gupta & Derevensky,
1997b,1998a; Vitaro, Ferland, Jacques & Ladouceur, 1998)
• Adolescents with gambling problems have poor
general coping skills (Gupta, 1999; Kaufman, Derevensky &
Gupta, 2002; Marget, Gupta, & Derevensky, 1999; Nower, Gupta &
Derevensky, 2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers report beginning
gambling at earlier ages, approximately 10 years of
age (Gupta & Derevensky,1997a,1998a; Wynne et al., 1996)
• Rapid movement from social gambler to problem
gambler (Derevensky, 1999; Derevensky & Gupta, 1996, 1999;
Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a)
• Pathological gamblers and youth in general report
early gambling in the home and with family members
(Derevensky & Gupta, 1997; Gupta & Derevensky, 1997a, 1997b)
• Problem and pathological gambling has been shown
to result in increased delinquency and crime,
disruption of familial relationships and decreased
academic performance (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a;
Ladouceur & Mireault, 1988; Lesieur & Klein, 1987; Wynne et al., 1996)
• Pathological gamblers report greater major and minor
life stressors (Gupta & Derevensky, 2002; Kaufman, Gupta &
Derevensky, 2002)
• Problem and pathological gambling has been shown
to have greater levels of trait and state anxiety (SteMarie, Gupta & Derevensky, 2002)
Profile of the adolescent problem gambler
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Predominantly male
Significant anxiety
Familial problems
Poor peer relationships
Preoccupation with gambling- reported inability to
stop despite repeated efforts
VLT, sports betting, lottery & scratch tickets, cards
Serious financial difficulties
Failure in school and/or at work
Lying to family and friends
Profile - continued
•
•
•
•
•
•
Friends usually have similar gambling problems
Stealing from family, friends, stores, bank fraud, etc.
Depression or “feeling dead inside”
Gambling to escape and to feel better
General lack of coping abilities
Confused and conflicted about whether they really
want to stop gambling
• Need for arousal or strong sensations
Adapted from Understanding Substance Abuse Prevention: Toward 21st Century Primer on
Effective Programs (P. Brounstein & J. Zweig, 1999). Centre for Substance Abuse Prevention
(CSAP) & Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)(Dickson,
Derevensky & Gupta, 2002)
Prevention
Prevention can occur on three levels
• Primary prevention - targeting intervention to
those who have not experienced a gambling
problem.
• Secondary prevention - targeting those
individuals demonstrating “at-risk” behaviors,
inappropriate attitudes, and erroneous
cognitions with respect to gambling.
• Tertiary prevention - treatment of those
individuals currently experiencing a serious
gambling problem.
Prevention
• Focused around two concepts:
• risk & protection – and their interaction (Centre for
Substance Abuse Prevention, 1999)
• Protective factors balance and buffer risk and
ultimately lessen the likelihood of engaging in risktaking behaviors or buffer exposure to problems
(Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992)
• Shift in focused prevention to focus on resiliency
(Garmezy & Streitman, 1974; Garmezy & Masten, 1986; Luthar,
1992; Jessor, 1998; Rutter, 1979; Werner, 1986)
• Education (Derevensky & Gupta, 1998a, 1999; Gupta &
Derevensky, 1999, 2000)
Gambling Prevention
Prevention through risk-reduction
–
–
–
–
individual
family
peer and social contexts
community context
• Risk-reduction by enhancing protective factors
– attributes of the individual
– family support
– environmental support
• Using schools as a basis for prevention through
promotion of social/personal competence (Haggerty,
Sherrod, Garmezy, & Rutter, 1994
A new conceptual model for the
prevention of youth gambling
problems….
Purple: shared risk factors
Red: factors specific to gambling
Prevention Issues
• Abstinence
• Harm reduction/minimization
Using schools as a basis for prevention
through promotion of social/personal
competence (Haggerty, Sherrod, Garmezy, & Rutter, 1994)
at-risk vs. general population
target appropriate age groups with
developmentally appropriate interventions
focus not merely on gambling but on social skills,
coping abilities, & problem solving skills
Responsible prevention efforts include...
 Incorporating knowledge acquired from scientific
research
 Taking a wide-angled approach (multi-faceted)
 Adjusting the material to the developmental level
of the recipient
 Testing for program effectiveness PRIOR to
widespread implementation
 Conducting focus groups with teachers and
children for input on program development and to
evaluate teacher willingness to implement the
prevention format
Goals of prevention
• Improve knowledge
• Increase awareness
• Change inappropriate attitudes and/or
encourage positive attitudes
• Correct false cognitions, understandings,
erroneous beliefs (odds, skill vs. luck, strategies,
superstitions)
• Behavior - prevent occurrence of excessive gambling
- decrease/reduce excessive gambling
patterns of behavior
• Increase problem-solving skills
• Increase feelings of self-confidence
• Improve coping skills
• Teach individuals to make good decisions for
themselves in the face of peer pressure and
social temptations
Note: Each level of prevention should be developmentally appropriate.
Key Elements
• Enhanced problem solving and thinking skills
leads to more effective coping strategies
• Strategies to successfully resolve stressful life
events
•
•
•
•
•
social skills
communication skills
decision-making skills
low sensation-seeking behaviors
feelings of success, self-worth and mastery
• Building of strong external resources
•
•
•
•
family
peers
school
community
Current Prevention Efforts
In development…
Other types of prevention
• Booths
• Presentations
• Workshops
• Responsible advertisements/ media messages
• Brochures, posters…
• Public policy advocacy
Additional Considerations
Public awareness, advertising, government
responsibility, social policy
Government and Industry Role
“As state lotteries take on the social responsibility to
help people who may have a problem with the
product we offer, the lottery industry, as a whole
benefits”
Gerald Aubin, Executive Director, Rhode Island Lottery
“Lotteries should continue programs that discourage
and prevent play by minors”
NASPL policy statement in response to the NGISC report
The need for responsible advertising
• Children are strongly influenced by
advertisements. The industry needs to be
responsible and not glamorize gambling
• Just as there are advocates for
responsible advertisement of alcohol and
tobacco, we need monitoring of gambling
advertisements
Enforcement of laws
– Penalties and serious
fines for those who allow
youth to have access to
legalized gambling
activities
Positive initiatives…
• Support for public service announcements
• Support for anti-youth gambling advertisements and
programs
• Education
• Sales force
• Public
• Development and enforcement of regulations and
statutes
• Strict penalties for non-compliance
• Provide support for telephone hot lines and print
numbers on back of lottery tickets
• Establishment and funding of internal departments
dedicated toward promoting responsible gaming and
helping gaming problems
• Specific programs designed for youth gambling
– Notices on retailer employee bulletin boards
– Statements on play slips and lottery tickets
– Visible signs on lottery booths and ticket machines
– Developing and providing appropriate materials to
schools
Gambling: the silent addiction…….
Understanding
Through
Knowledge
International Centre for Youth Gambling
Problems and High-Risk Behaviors
Centre international d’étude sur le jeu
et les compertements à risque chez les jeunes
www.youthgambling.com