Not Your Average Gambling Training Presented by: Lauren Munk

Not Your Average Gambling Training Lauren Munk, LSW, OCPS II Prevention Coordinator Community Health Center 725 E. Market St, Akron, OH

projectpanda.com Objectives Difference between “Problem Gambling” and “Gambling Awareness” Have better understanding of what Gambling Awareness is How to better infuse Gambling Awareness into already existing programs.

projectpanda.com What is Gambling? What words do you think of when you hear the work “Gamble”?

projectpanda.com What is Gambling? Gambling: The act of risking something of value, including money and property, on an activity that has an uncertain outcome. Problem Gambling: Gambling behavior that results in problems with work, school, family or finances, but does not meet the number of criteria to be recognized as disordered gambling. Disordered Gambling: (Formerly known as "Pathological" or "Compulsive" gambling" meets the APA DSM V criteria for the behavioral addiction of Disordered Gambling.

projectpanda.com Group Activity 1.Discuss your first memory of gambling and the feelings around it. Who were you with? 2. If you won $200,000 how would you feel and what would you do

projectpanda.com The "Juicing" Effect The excitement feeling you get Similar to the feelings of AOD effects Now think of your 1st drink of alcohol Younger or older than gambling memory? Gambling type fundraisers-making it less risky. Take the "juicing" effect out of it.

projectpanda.com 3 Important Messages 1. Gambling is not a risk free activity 2. If you choose to gamble, make sure it’s legal 3. Know how to keep the problem out of gambling

projectpanda.com Prevention Strategies Information/Awareness Education Alternative Activities Community Based Process (community development, capacity building, and institutional change) Environmental (social policy) Problem ID & Referral (early intervention strategies with high risk populations)

projectpanda.com Prevention Approaches Scare Tactics Approach: 1930s-1960s Information Disseminations: Late 1960s Affective Educations: Early 1970s Positive Youth Development: Mid-late 1970s Comprehensive: Mid 1980’s to present Outcome Focused: Present

projectpanda.com What are your goals of your prevention program? Create awareness of attitudes & behaviors Delay/prevent onset of risky behaviors Interrupt progression to higher risk behaviors Increase “Protective Factors”/Decrease “Risk Factors” Develop “Good decision makers.” Increase capacity across the lifespan Create healthy citizens, healthy communities

projectpanda.com What is your Population? Universal Prevention: (General population)Averting a potential health problems before they start. Selected Prevention: (Those at risk) Early Detection & Early Intervention Indicated Prevention: (Identified as user/troubled behavior) Minimizing disability & avoiding relapse

projectpanda.com Goals of Gambling Awareness & Education Create Awareness: – Of gambling as a “risky behavior” similar to alcohol use; of gambling attitudes & behaviors Develop good decision makers Increase a healthy lifestyle

projectpanda.com Before Gambling Awareness

Entries

No Use Messages, instead of lowering the risk message.

Winning Entry

projectpanda.com After Gambling Awareness

projectpanda.com “Gambling” Fundraiser Type Activities Raffles (50/50, Reverse, Chinese, etc.) Casino Nights (adults vs. kids i.e..prom nights) Night at the Races Lottery Sports betting/Fantasy leagues/March madness Pull tabs

projectpanda.com Making Gambling a Low Risk Activity for fundraisers: Things to consider Age of those participating? 21 and older? Under 18? Would you serve alcohol to under 21? Having alcohol at the event? (Clouds judgment) Don’t glamorize any winnings-no bells and whistles Use monopoly money? Equally divide money or give prizes instead of $. Say “Recipient” instead of “Winner” If a PTA raffle-PTA should sell tickets, not the kids

projectpanda.com Low Risk vs High Risk Playing for pennies or nickels vs. playing for $5 and up Giving back the money or evenly distributing vs. “Big” Winner Playing for fun vs. playing for money or something of value Everyone is a winner vs. 1 winner Having a family game night Lottery vs. Internet gambling

projectpanda.com Scenarios Put each person from high to low risk

projectpanda.com Views of Gambling Awareness Not Anti-Gambling! Raise Awareness: Not a Risk-Free activity Movement towards ATODG, not just ATOD Create/Strengthen Protective Factors Involve Peer Message Multiple Strategies/Multiple Targets

projectpanda.com Gambling Awareness Strategies Have a conversation about gambling Cultural, family of origin, and personal experience Gambling not “good” or “bad” Some people are more vulnerable than others Some forms of gambling more dangerous than others Gambling and resulting risky behaviors can put recovery at risk.

projectpanda.com Having a conversation about gambling, can help to increase “Protective Factors” In Gambling awareness (and ATOD prevention), people are taught to: Make healthy choices Reduce risk of addiction Set personal limits This helps people to feel more empowered, and better about themselves.

projectpanda.com Protective Factors PF are conditions that foster health and resiliency and promote physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being in the individual. – Having a relationship with a caring adult role model – Being effective in work, play, and relationships – Having healthy expectations and a positive outlook – Using problem solving and critical thinking skills – Earning meaningful rewards – Having knowledge/resources – Having a sense of humor

projectpanda.com Promoting Gambling Awareness Gambling is comparable to that of substance use Raise awareness: Schools/agencies, students, clients, etc.. Infuse gambling: ATODG, gambling can be a high risk behavior and an addiction Infuse into substance abuse and mental health treatment: screenings and assessments Review policies: schools/agencies/PTA Advocate for increased funding for prevention, treatment, research and evaluation.

projectpanda.com Challenges in the school/community Lack of class room time (focused on testing) Lack of available funds for youth gambling awareness Lack of knowledge of effective youth gambling prevention strategies Any others?

projectpanda.com Infuse Gambling into Education English/Literature-Bible History-Prohibition Era, Religious beliefs (Bible) Math-probability and statics Health Class-when other addictions are discussed Biology/science-the brain Psychology, Sociology, etc..

projectpanda.com The Teen Brain: Ken Winters-Teen Brain How the teen brain develops Why gambling activities are so seductive for young people How gambling, like other addictive behaviors, can “hijack” and have long term impact on the developing brain.

projectpanda.com Teen Brain Teen brain development a “work in progress” – Motivation, reward, and risk taking (Early “BIG” Win) – Lag in decision making (particularly in high risk situations) ADHD particularly vulnerable group Increasing impact of internet gambling - Hyper focus-Locked in -sleep deprivations and adolescent sleep patterns

projectpanda.com Making Gambling a low risk activity Gamble as a form of recreation, not to make money Set a limit on how much time and money you will spend and stick to it. Gambling in a social setting, not alone, and with money you can afford to lose. Realize that knowing more won’t guarantee a win. Don’t play to escape. Know what’s legal to play in your area. Understand that everyone loses over time. Avoid mixing gambling with alcohol or other substances. Never borrow to play. Balance recreational gambling with other healthy activities. Know where to get help. Ohio’s hotline number:

projectpanda.com Factors that put someone at risk for Problem Gambling Avoid situations where you are: Coping with grief, loneliness, anger or depression: Under financial pressure or stress; Recovering from mental health or substance abuse disorder Using alcohol or other drugs Under the legal age to gamble

projectpanda.com Ohio Gambling Study 2012 For every $50.00 of economic benefits, there is $ of “social costs” These social costs can includes: rise in bankruptcies, foreclosures, divorces, drunk driving, and suicides…Higher rates of serious depression, health care costs from stress and use of alcohol/other drugs to deal with painful situations.

projectpanda.com Conclusion: Raising Awareness Not anti-gambling Support school administration, teachers, counselors, parent, community Integration into classes on addictions, math, history,English, social sciences, etc.. Review policies on fundraisers, raffles, cards/dice, and other games of chance Peer to peer and young to adult 3 important messages Multiple strategies/multiple targets

projectpanda.com Thank you! Information Courtesy of CT DMHAS Problem Gambling Services 2014

projectpanda.com Resources http:// 212 (Connecticut Government) d=1http:// d=1 (National Council on PG) (Lane County, Oregan) prevention/ prevention/ (Lake County, OH) (McGill University)