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Prevention of Problem Gambling
March 1999, Vol II, Issue 3

*A Monthly Newsletter on Problem Gambling Prevention Information, Research, and Initiatives*

"No progress has ever been made against an epidemic by treating only the casualties."

PREVENTION STRATEGIES CONTINUED
INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

In this issue of the newsletter we will address the last of the three prevention strategies. Community development and capacity building have previously been discussed. Institutional change strategies work to alter the culture of a community from one that is either ambivalent about or supports harmful behaviors to one that encourages and supports healthy choices and/or discourages harmful behaviors.This environmental approach to prevention focuses on the community more than on the individual. The concept of environmental strategies has been increasingly addressed in the past decade. In his 1993 book, Discovering the Meaning of Prevention, William A. Lofquist defined prevention as "an active process of creating conditions and fostering personal attributes that promote the well-being of people". He noted that much of the work in prevention focuses on fostering personal attributes in the individual. He encouraged those working in prevention to devote more time and resources to conditions, i.e., those factors in a community culture that support and encourage healthy behaviors. Focusing on conditions forms the basis for an environmental approach which leads to institutional change. The highest impact on institutional change is achieved when the environmental approach is combined with traditional individually focused efforts. Lofquist's research and evaluated practices were confirmed by Kathryn Stewart of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE). Her article "Environmentally Oriented Prevention Policies for Young Adults" discusses the effectiveness of prevention efforts that are widely applied to whole populations and groups and focus on the environmental, social, legal and economic issues.

A few examples of environmental strategies and practices include high impact planning, social marketing and comprehensive student assistance programs. We will discuss these practices in a future issue.

4TH Annual New England Conference on Problem Gambling
Thursday, April 29, 1999
Hartford Marriott: Farmington, CT
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Youth and Families:
Gambling with our Future" Conference Goals: To focus on youth and family gambling issues; to increase the knowledge and skills of professionals who provide direct service in prevention, intervention, and research in the area of problem gambling; to network with other professionals to increase understanding, awareness, and collaboration.

Keynote Speakers:
Linda Berman, co-author of Behind the 8 Ball

Presentation: The Life and Times of the Adolescent Problem Gambler: Clinical Issues that Effect Engagement, Treatment Design & Recovery

Rina Gupta, Ph.D., researcher and prevention practitioner
McGill University, Canada

Presentation: Youth Gambling: Our Current State of Knowledge, Social Policy Issues, & Future Directions.

Workshops:

Adolescent Gambling and Substance Abuse Behavior
Gambling Among the Elderly
Treatment and Prevention of Youth Gambling Problems
Utilizing Best Practices in Prevention
Development of Practical Standards for the Treatment of Pathological Gambling
Using the Media to Promote the Use of Problem

Gambling Resources

Youth Gambling: How Responsible Are We?
Voices in Recovery: The Woman's Perspective

For more information and/or to register, call the
CT Council on Problem Gambling 203-453-0138.

Local Problem Gambling Helplines
CT 800-346-6238 MA
800-426-1234 RI 877-9-GAMBLE VT 888-822-8274