1. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
problem
gambling:
the
hidden
addiction
Presented By:
Gulf Shores High School Peer Helpers
‘Know the Rules of the Game’
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

2. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Gambling
To risk money or something of value on the outcome of an unpredictable event or contest.
Gambling - is UNPREDICTABLE.
For example - you flip a coin and 20 timed in a row it comes up heads.
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

3. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Trends
Greater Access + Greater Acceptance = More Gamblers
Many “A’s” for concern:
Availability: more types of gambling than ever
Access: video poker: 763 bars, taverns & delis; online gambling everywhere
Acceptability: social; “benign” form of entertainment, perception of harmlessness “victimless” habit (More accepted than ever among adults & peers; viewed as “cool” , now considered a rite of passage)
Advertising: media hype, tv shows, commercials, etc.
Attractiveness: types of gambling more attractive than ever (video games, 1st generation to use video games; branded slots, etc.)
Adrenaline: Loma Linda University researcher Durand Jacobs: “Young males seek excitement from pervasive boredom. Gambling is like an upper drug, such as cocaine. It produces abnormal arousal levels.” Neuron study: gambling affects the brain in the same way as cocaine. Areas of the brain stimulated by anticipation & experience of gambling are similar to those stimulated by euphoria-inducing drugs.
Why people gamble:
Money %
Enjoyment/Fun 23.0%
Social Reasons 11.2%
Excitement 7.3%
Winning %
Source: Neighbors, Lostustter, Cronce, & Larimer, 2002)
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

4. Cell Phone Gambling: Next Wave?
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Cell Phone Gambling: Next Wave?
Cell phone gambling is still getting off the ground but, thanks to
its convenience and a receptive 20 to 35 year-old age bracket,
the sector is primed for growth. Global revenues from cell phone
based casino games will grow at an accelerated pace through
2008, expanding by nearly 50% from 2006 to 2007, and will
likely total over $2.2 billion by 2010 (more than five times the
revenues generated in 2004).
Cell phone users in the UK who were surveyed regarding the
appeal of cell phone gambling overwhelmingly cited convenience
as a benefit (70%), with smaller numbers saying that it was less
intimidating and allowed for more discretion.
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

5. “so what?”
stats & effects

6. Gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life.
problem gambling
Gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life.

7. pathological gambling
More serious form of problem gambling; loss of control; often called “gambling addiction”.

8. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Video Gambling = Crack??
Video poker/slots
7 in 10 Mississippi problem gambling treatment clients say video poker is their game of choice
Internet
Click & Play Lottery games
15 months – 4x as fast as horse/dog betting
‘Crack cocaine’ of gambling...
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

9. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
College: Quick Facts
50.4%:
Male college students who gamble on cards at least once a month
Female college students who gamble on cards at least once a month
Internet gambling revenue in 2001
Internet gambling revenue in (even after new anti-Internet gambling law passed)
26.6%:
$3.1 billion:
$15 billion:
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

10. Most Common Effects of Problem Gambling
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Most Common Effects of Problem Gambling
Debt
Crime
Depression/Suicide
Relationship problems
Employment problems
Concurrent alcohol and/or drug problems
1 in 10 attempted
1 in 4
1 in 7
Behavioral, psychological, physical
A correlation between gambling and all forms of substance abuse exists.
Gamblers are more likely to…
Lose their jobs, be demoted
Fall deeply into debt and file for bankruptcy
Lose their homes and personal property
Accumulate legal fees due to divorce, criminal activities
Run up medical, mental health bills
Well-demonstrated relationship of problem gambling with other risky behaviors
Excessive alcohol use & binge drinking
Regular tobacco use
Illicit drug use
Overeating/binge eating
Source: Engwall & Steinberg, 2003; Ladouceur, Dube, &^ Bujold, 1994; Lesieur, et al., 1991
1 in 3 alcohol problems
1 in 10 drug problems
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

11. Economic/Financial Impact
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Economic/Financial Impact
By one estimate, the social-economic cost for each pathological gambler is in excess of $11,000 and over $3,000 for each sub-clinical pathological gambler.
If those figures generalized to Mississippi then the annualized socioeconomic costs of problem gambling to Mississippi approximates $449 million.
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS 11

12. “how do you tell?”
signs & diagnosis
of the problem

13. Pathological Gambling: DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Pathological Gambling: DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria
Preoccupation with gambling
Increases amount of money gambled
Unsuccessfully tries to quit
Restless or irritable when trying to cut down/stop
Gambles as an escape
“Chases” losses
Lies to others to conceal gambling
Has committed illegal acts
Has jeopardized relationships
Relies on others to bail him/her out
Other impulse control disorders:
Kleptomania
Compulsive sexual behavior
Compulsive buying
Pyromania
Compulsive Internet use
Trichotillomania
Pathological Gambling is defined in DSM-IV as an “Impulse Control Disorder”
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

14. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
discussion
Given all the characteristics of problem gambling we’ve shared, how would you identify
“responsible” gambling?
Try to come up with 5 signs.
Loss of control - Repeated attempts to stop/cut back fail
Denial - Not always a conscious act
Progressive - between first-time use and addiction
Chasing - throwing good money after bad
Blackouts - not too common, but called “going on tilt”
Escape - think valium
Use of rituals - ever seen a serious bingo player?
Similar highs - speaking physiologically
Hidden - quite easy to hide from friends and family
Overdose - can’t do it in the conventional sense
Financial - Average debt called into the OR hotline is thousand dollars
Work - can function at work, usually can gamble in short bursts
Tests - no UA for gambling
Resources - more than 13,000 in U.S. providing substance abuse tx…
Perception - where alcoholism was about 40 years ago. Just stop!
Gambling questions added to a student survey in of Connecticut St. Univ. students in 2000 (n=1,348)
Problem & pathological gamblers compared with social gamblers had significantly:
Greater tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use
Greater binge drinking
Greater number of negative outcomes from drug and alcohol use
Greater binge eating and efforts at weight control
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

15. the
addiction
connection

16. Problem Gambling & Alcohol Abuse
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Problem Gambling & Alcohol Abuse
Problem drinkers are 23 times more likely to have a gambling problem than persons without an alcohol problem
Problem gamblers had 7 times the rate of alcohol dependence than nongamblers and low-risk gamblers
(Welte J, Barnes G, Wieczorek W, Tidwell, MC, Parker J. (2001).
A 1999 study revealed that almost one in every three persons with a gambling problem also abused alcohol--compared to about one in ten without gambling problems (Pasternak & Fleming, 1999)
The same study showed almost twice as many problem gambler used tobacco compared with those without gambling problems; another study also showed strong associations (Crockford & el-Guebaly, 1998)
1.       Pasternak, A.V., Fleming M.F. (1999). Prevalence of gambling disorders in a primary care setting [Electronic version]. Archives of Family Medicine, 8, Available online:
Crockford, D.N. and el-Guebaly, N. (1998, February). Psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gambling: A Critical Review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 43,
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

17. Problem Gambling & Substance Abuse
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Problem Gambling & Substance Abuse
Between 25-65% PGs report substance abuse at some point
9-16% of those with substance abuse issues also found to be PGs
(Welte J, Barnes G, Wieczorek W, Tidwell, MC, Parker J. (2001).
A 1999 study revealed that almost one in every three persons with a gambling problem also abused alcohol--compared to about one in ten without gambling problems (Pasternak & Fleming, 1999)
The same study showed almost twice as many problem gambler used tobacco compared with those without gambling problems; another study also showed strong associations (Crockford & el-Guebaly, 1998)
Shaffer: Road less traveled
1.       Pasternak, A.V., Fleming M.F. (1999). Prevalence of gambling disorders in a primary care setting [Electronic version]. Archives of Family Medicine, 8, Available online:
Crockford, D.N. and el-Guebaly, N. (1998, February). Psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gambling: A Critical Review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 43,
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

18. Problem Gambling & Mental Health: Mood Disorders
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Problem Gambling & Mental Health: Mood Disorders
A major depressive disorder: likely to occur in 76 percent of pathologic gamblers
Higher suicide rates
6% of problem gamblers made suicide attempt within six months prior to entering treatment
, with recurrent depressive episodes likely to occur in 28 percent of pathologic gamblers
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

19. “ADDICTION” CONNECTION: Gambling & Substances
Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
“ADDICTION” CONNECTION: Gambling & Substances
DIFFERENCES
SIMILARITIES
Loss of control
Denial
Depression & mood swings
Progressive
First win (high) remembered
Use as an escape
Preoccupation
Similar “highs”
Hidden addiction
Can’t overdose-no “saturation point”
Can’t be tested
Doesn’t require ingestion
Fewer resources available
Societal perceptions
Loss of control - Repeated attempts to stop/cut back fail
Denial - Not always a conscious act
Progressive - between first-time use and addiction
Chasing - throwing good money after bad
Blackouts - not too common, but called “going on tilt”
Escape - think valium
Use of rituals - ever seen a serious bingo player?
Similar highs - speaking physiologically
Hidden - quite easy to hide from friends and family
Overdose - can’t do it in the conventional sense
Financial - Average debt called into the OR hotline is thousand dollars
Work - can function at work, usually can gamble in short bursts
Tests - no UA for gambling
Resources - more than 13,000 in U.S. providing substance abuse tx…
Perception - where alcoholism was about 40 years ago. Just stop!
Gambling questions added to a student survey in of Connecticut St. Univ. students in 2000 (n=1,348)
Problem & pathological gamblers compared with social gamblers had significantly:
Greater tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use
Greater binge drinking
Greater number of negative outcomes from drug and alcohol use
Greater binge eating and efforts at weight control
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

20. Playing the Cards Right:
addressing
the issue

21. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Helpful Links
(Responsible Gambling Council -- good link for students)
(Problem Gambling Awareness Week – good for you; further tools)
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS

22. Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Who’s in Treatment?
Mississippi Gambling Treatment Clients:
Males 47% | Females 52%
Average age: 45 years
Average household income: $36,495
Race/Ethnicity: White 87%
Marital status:
Married 36% - Divorced 25%
Average gambling-related debt: $23,331
Julie Hynes, Lane County H&HS