GAMBLING DISORDERS 360°

The American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders has approved 14 hours of continuing education offered by the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, scheduled for Nov. 14-16, 2010 in Las Vegas. Clinicians who attend the conference will be allowed to apply the 14 continuing education hours toward their certification as Certified Addiction Specialists (CAS) and Certified Gambling Addiction Specialists (CGAS).

The American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders has approved 14 hours of continuing education offered by the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, scheduled for Nov. 14-16, 2010 in Las Vegas. Clinicians who attend the conference will be allowed to apply the 14 continuing education hours toward their certification as Certified Addiction Specialists (CAS) and Certified Gambling Addiction Specialists (CGAS).

A new review article from the principal investigators of the NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research at Yale University and the University of Minnesota explores the potential of pharmacological treatments for disordered gambling in adolescents. It is important to identify an effective treatment for this age group, as adolescents are at a higher risk for developing gambling-related problems than adults.  However, no drug trials focused on pathological gambling have been conducted with this age group.

A new review article from the principal investigators of the NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research at Yale University and the University of Minnesota explores the potential of pharmacological treatments for disordered gambling in adolescents. It is important to identify an effective treatment for this age group, as adolescents are at a higher risk for developing gambling-related problems than adults.  However, no drug trials focused on pathological gambling have been conducted with this age group.

Viewpoints, a nationally syndicated public affairs radio program, recently aired a segment about pathological gambling that featured Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, and Dr. Mitchell E. Wallick, executive director of the C.A.R.E. Florida addiction recovery center in North Palm Beach, Fla. In the segment, Reilly and Dr. Wallick discussed several aspects of disordered gambling and mentioned the similarities between gambling disorders and other addictive behaviors.

Last month, the National Center for Responsible Gaming’s (NCRG) annual road tour visited Cleveland – one of Ohio’s new casino jurisdictions – where representatives met with treatment providers, policymakers, researchers and community leaders. As casino development in the city gets underway, the NCRG encouraged these stakeholder groups to work together to implement state-of-the-art responsible gaming programs and to adopt research-based policies that effectively minimize gambling related harms.

Last month, the National Center for Responsible Gaming’s (NCRG) annual road tour visited Cleveland – one of Ohio’s new casino jurisdictions – where representatives met with treatment providers, policymakers, researchers and community leaders. As casino development in the city gets underway, the NCRG encouraged these stakeholder groups to work together to implement state-of-the-art responsible gaming programs and to adopt research-based policies that effectively minimize gambling related harms.

As part of its 2010 Webinar Series, the National Center for Responsible Gaming will hold its next live, free webinar titled “Regulating Interventions for Disordered Gambling: What New Research Says about the Safety, Effectiveness and Logistics of Self-Exclusion Programs,” this Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, from 2 – 3 p.m. (EDT). The NCRG Webinar Series provides convenient educational opportunities at your desktop for learning about critical issues related to gambling disorders and responsible gaming. Participants in the one-hour program will earn one continuing education unit approved by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, the California Foundation for Advancement of Addiction Professionals (CFAAP) and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Advance registration for this free program is required. For online registration and more information, visit the webinar website.

As part of its 2010 Webinar Series, the National Center for Responsible Gaming will hold its next live, free webinar titled “Regulating Interventions for Disordered Gambling: What New Research Says about the Safety, Effectiveness and Logistics of Self-Exclusion Programs,” this Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, from 2 – 3 p.m. (EDT). The NCRG Webinar Series provides convenient educational opportunities at your desktop for learning about critical issues related to gambling disorders and responsible gaming. Participants in the one-hour program will earn one continuing education unit approved by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, the California Foundation for Advancement of Addiction Professionals (CFAAP) and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Advance registration for this free program is required. For online registration and more information, visit the webinar website.

Self-exclusion is one of the most widely used responsible gaming strategies. These programs allow individuals to literally “exclude” themselves from a gaming venue as a way of dealing with problematic gambling behavior. Scientific research on the safety and effectiveness of self-exclusion is just now catching up to the establishment of such programs, which began more than a decade ago.