disordered gambling

A new study from the Research Institute on Addictions at the University of Buffalo published in the Journal of Gambling Studies combined two national surveys to examine gambling and gambling problems across the lifespan, from the teenage years to retirement-age. The authors found that gambling involvement, frequent gambling (defined as gambling 52 times per year or more) and problem gambling increased during the teens, peaked in the 20s and 30s, and then declined in adults older than 40.

A new study from the Research Institute on Addictions at the University of Buffalo published in the Journal of Gambling Studies combined two national surveys to examine gambling and gambling problems across the lifespan, from the teenage years to retirement-age. The authors found that gambling involvement, frequent gambling (defined as gambling 52 times per year or more) and problem gambling increased during the teens, peaked in the 20s and 30s, and then declined in adults older than 40.

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) presented the first installment of the 2010 NCRG Webinar Series to more than 100 participants in June. Led by Dr. Marc Potenza, the webinar focused on “Co-Occurring Disorders: How Research is Informing the Identification and Treatment of Pathological Gambling.” Visit the NCRG website for an archived version of the presentation.

The Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders is now accepting abstracts for the poster session at the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. The poster session showcases new research on gambling disorders and is an opportunity for investigators to report their empirical research and converse with conference attendees about their findings. Abstracts are due Friday, Sept. 10, 2010.  The poster session and reception will be held Sunday, Nov.

The Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders is now accepting abstracts for the poster session at the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. The poster session showcases new research on gambling disorders and is an opportunity for investigators to report their empirical research and converse with conference attendees about their findings. Abstracts are due Friday, Sept. 10, 2010.  The poster session and reception will be held Sunday, Nov.

The WAGER (Worldwide Addiction Gambling Education Report) is a great resource for keeping up with new research on gambling and gambling disorders. This online science review is published by the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The WAGER is one of a number of publications available through the Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS).

The WAGER (Worldwide Addiction Gambling Education Report) is a great resource for keeping up with new research on gambling and gambling disorders. This online science review is published by the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The WAGER is one of a number of publications available through the Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS).

Inpatient treatment programs have been helping people with substance-use disorders for decades, but only recently have they been used in the treatment of pathological gambling. The Louisiana Center of Recovery (CORE) was one of the first inpatient treatment facilities dedicated to treating disordered gambling. The following is an excerpt from the article, “Louisiana Treatment Center is a Model for State-Funded Programs,” which was originally published in the spring 2010 edition of Responsible Gaming Quarterly.

In June of 1999, the state of Louisiana’s Office for Addictive Disorders, with support from the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling and the state’s casinos and gaming companies, opened a one-of-a-kind residential treatment center for those suffering from pathological gambling. It was called the Center of Recovery (CORE) and, at that time, was the only state-funded center with a primary focus on treating gambling disorders.

“There was a visionary thinker, Jake Hadley, in the Office for Addictive Disorders, and he felt that pathological gambling was a major public health concern for the citizens of Louisiana,” said CORE executive director Reece Middleton. “He wanted to address the problem in a proactive fashion, and thought those affected would benefit most from a residential treatment facility.”

Inpatient treatment programs have been helping people with substance-use disorders for decades, but only recently have they been used in the treatment of pathological gambling. The Louisiana Center of Recovery (CORE) was one of the first inpatient treatment facilities dedicated to treating disordered gambling. The following is an excerpt from the article, “Louisiana Treatment Center is a Model for State-Funded Programs,” which was originally published in the spring 2010 edition of Responsible Gaming Quarterly.

In June of 1999, the state of Louisiana’s Office for Addictive Disorders, with support from the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling and the state’s casinos and gaming companies, opened a one-of-a-kind residential treatment center for those suffering from pathological gambling. It was called the Center of Recovery (CORE) and, at that time, was the only state-funded center with a primary focus on treating gambling disorders.

“There was a visionary thinker, Jake Hadley, in the Office for Addictive Disorders, and he felt that pathological gambling was a major public health concern for the citizens of Louisiana,” said CORE executive director Reece Middleton. “He wanted to address the problem in a proactive fashion, and thought those affected would benefit most from a residential treatment facility.”

The study of addiction often involves quantifying personal information to make it usable in objective research. This process is an important part of developing sound science that increases understanding about gambling disorders and related addictions, and can inform the development of effective prevention, treatment and education efforts. In efforts to raise awareness about addictive disorders and address the stigma surrounding them, the arts can help translate scientific topics into compelling educational information for a broader audience.

One example of the arts helping to translate science is “Expressions of Addiction,” an online collection of photographs taken by addictions researcher and award-winning photographer Dr. Howard J. Shaffer. Expressions of Addiction was created to increase awareness and understanding of addiction and contribute to community programs and resources to prevent and treat addiction. The exhibit features pictures of people in various stages and expressions of addiction, including problems with alcohol, drugs and gambling, along with descriptions of how addiction has affected their lives. Shaffer, a licensed psychologist and director of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, is one of the foremost researchers on gambling disorders.