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Prevention of Problem Gambling
AUGUST 2000, Volume IV, Issue 8

*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."

Canadian Curriculum Targets Youth: Includes Evaluation Follow-ups

A multi-grade curriculum intervention was highlighted at the June 2000 International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking in Las Vegas. Citing 1988 and 1996 Canadian studies, authors Francine Ferland, Robert Ladouceur and Christian Jaques posited:

For youth, gambling is a casual activity.

They know nothing or very little about the possible consequences of gambling.

They are somewhat or not at all familiar with the potential pitfalls of gambling activities.

The curriculum was presented in three class sessions to students in grades eight, nine and ten. Twelve hundred and five students participated in the study, 574 in the experimental and 631 in the control groups. There were no pre-selection criteria. Active participation was required of all students in the program. The overall program goal was to reduce gambling behavior. Goals of the sessions included:

Learning what gambling activities are;
Learning tricks and pitfalls of these activities;
Demystifying the concept of randomness;
Learning and practicing problem-solving strategies;
Learning possible negative consequences of excessive gambling.

Pre- and post-evaluations were conducted, including questions on knowledge and attitude. Authors reported the following observations:

It is difficult to change the problem solving strategy used by youth;

A gambling prevention program could change knowledge and attitude toward gambling activities;

Giving youth relevant information about gambling activities allowed them (1) to talk openly about these activities and (2) to be much more aware of the gambling activities of the people close to them (family, friends, etc.).

Three-and six-month follow-ups to assess changes in gambling behavior are currently being conducted.

For more information on the curriculum and evaluation, email Francine Ferland at Laval University in Quebec, Canada: francine.ferland@psy.ulaval.ca

Prevention of Problem Gambling Represented at Summit 2000: Prevention Think Tank

A group of prevention professional leaders from across the country met in Chicago in early August to "find common ground to promote health and quality of life." Offerings included keynotes, workshops and "open space technology", sessions where issues facing prevention professionals were addressed and common solutions sought. Summit 2000 was very well received by those in attendance and its findings will soon be available on-line.

The discipline of problem gambling prevention was represented by national expert Jim Wuelfing, CPP-R, of the CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services Compulsive Gambling Treatment Program and the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. Jim was a panelist discussing multi-disciplinary prevention program standards. National program standards would help preventionists working in the problem gambling arena to identify best practices in programming as well as offer guidance around prevention ethics.

For more information on the Prevention Think Tank, please contact ETP, Inc. at 860-610-4600 or visit their website at www.etpinc.org/ptt.

A Reminder to Register:

National Conference on Problem Gambling
October 5-7, 2000
Philadelphia, PA
Call the NCPG office 202-547-9204

New England Problem Gambling Helplines:
- CT 800-346-6238
- MA 800-426-1234
- RI 877-9-GAMBLE
- VT/NH 888-822-8274