Introduction to Problem Gambling
Guy Cousins
Intended Audience: Direct Service Responsibilities
Credit: 0.3 CEU's
Legalized gambling is a growing industry in the United States. Until the late 1990’s gambling was primarily a male dominated activity. Today women, seniors, adolescents and young people are joining the ranks of gamblers in increasing numbers, with problems occurring for some.
More difficult to detect than alcohol and drug addictions since there is no substance directly involved in the activity, healthcare professionals rarely assess for problem gambling even though the effects can be as devastating as alcohol or drug abuse.
Professionals working with individuals abusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs should be aware of the co-existence of gambling and substance abuse. Research shows that about half of all problem gamblers have had a co-occurring problem with alcohol or drugs. It further shows that 25-35% of individuals with alcohol and drug problems have also had gambling problems.
The best news is that problem gambling, like substance abuse, can be identified, diagnosed and treated.
This training will introduce you to:
- characteristics of problem gambling behaviors
- gambling and the brain
- the progression of problem gambling
- screening tools
- at risk populations
- impact on families and communities relative to financial, legal, social issues
- resources available to help
