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Background Research on College Gambling

Toward Science-Guided College Policies for Gambling and Recovery from Addiction: Ten Policy Recommendations. Background Research on College Gambling. College students who gambled in past year. 75 % (83 percent male; 67 percent female) Estimate of at risk/problem gambling 6 %

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Background Research on College Gambling

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  1. Toward Science-Guided College Policies for Gambling and Recovery from Addiction: Ten Policy Recommendations

  2. BackgroundResearch on College Gambling

  3. College students who gambled in past year 75 % (83 percent male; 67 percent female) Estimate of at risk/problem gambling 6 % Barnes, G. M., Welte, J. W., Hoffman, J. H., & Tidwell, M. C. (2010). Comparisons of gambling and alcohol use among college students and noncollege young people in the United States. Journal of American College Health, 58(5), 443-452.

  4. Games College Students Play Barnes, et al., 2010

  5. Correlates of College Student Gambling • Compared to their non-gambling counterparts, students who had gambled in the past year had higher rates of: • Binge drinking • Marijuana use • Cigarette use • Illicit drug use • Unsafe sex after drinking LaBrie, R. A., Shaffer, H. J., LaPlante, D. A., & Wechsler, H. (2003). Correlates of college student gambling in the United States. Journal of American College Health, 52(2), 53-62.

  6. Comorbidity of Gambling Disorders in All Populations Among pathological gamblers: • 75% had an alcohol disorder • 38% had a non-alcohol drug use disorder • 60% were nicotine dependent • Nearly 50% had experienced a mood disorder • 41.3% experienced an anxiety disorder

  7. Prevalence of College Alcohol or Gambling Policies in U.S. Colleges and Universities Alcohol: 100% Gambling: 22% Shaffer, H. J., Donato, A. N., LaBrie, R. A., Kidman, R. C., & LaPlante, D. A. (2005). The epidemiology of college alcohol and gambling policies. Harm Reduction Journal, 2(1), 1.

  8. Conclusions • Lack of college policies on gambling and recovery signify missed opportunities to: • inform students about the risks of excessive gambling • provide recovery-oriented measures designed to support student persistence

  9. NCRG Task Force on College Gambling Policies A project of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and The National Center for Responsible Gaming

  10. Schools Represented on Task Force • Bridgewater State College • George Fox University • Harvard University • Lehigh University • Mississippi State University • Oregon State University • University of Alabama • University of Denver • University of Missouri • University of Nevada, Las Vegas • University of Nevada, Reno • Villanova University

  11. NCRG Task Force on College Gambling Policies Goals: • Help reduce gambling problems among students • Enable students who are struggling with addiction to fully participate in college life

  12. Task Force: Guiding Principles • The academic mission to promote learning requires a healthy student body to be successful. • Health promotion must include attention to both the mental and physical health of students. • Policies on gambling and alcohol should support student persistence in schools. • Gambling policies should be integrated into policies and programs focused on alcohol and other drugs

  13. Task Force: Guiding Principles • Institutions should be proactive in response to college gambling and drinking • The best public policies prevent most infractions, and punish only a few. • Policies should be grounded in empirical research published in reputable peer-reviewed scientific journals. • Policies should be enforceable to prevent students from losing respect for the rule of law.

  14. A CALL TO ACTIONAddressing College Gambling: Recommendationsfor Science-BasedPolicies and Programs Download report from www.ncrg.org

  15. Ten Policy Recommendations • Establish a campus-wide committee to develop and monitor a comprehensive policy on gambling. • Ensure that college policies are consistent with local, state, and federal laws. • Examine current policies • Disseminate information campus-wide on laws affecting gambling • Encourage campus security to collaborate with local law enforcement

  16. Ten Policy Recommendations • Strive for consistency and universal application with prohibitions and restrictions on gambling and alcohol use at special events. • Be prepared for conflicts of interest when attempting to restrict or prohibit gambling and alcohol use at on-campus events. • Consider the potential for sending mixed messages about alcohol and gambling. • Encourage organizations to use non-gambling themes for special events.

  17. Ten Policy Recommendations • Promote campus-community collaborations that focus on reducing problems with student drinking and gambling. • Develop relationships with local gambling operators to encourage restrictions on advertising and ensure that laws on underage gambling are enforced. • Encourage adjustments in disciplinary action applied to violators of gambling rules if the student seeks assistance from health or counseling services.

  18. Ten Policy Recommendations • Make reasonable accommodations for students focused on recovery from a problem with gambling or alcohol. • Allow students who need time off to focus on recovery from a gambling or alcohol disorder to take a medical leave of absence. • Make reasonable accommodations allowing student involved in off-campus treatment to continue in classes. • Allow students who withdraw and are no longer eligible for a refund to appeal the process citing gambling or alcohol problems as an extenuating circumstance beyond the control of the student involved.

  19. Ten Policy Recommendations • Measure student attitudes, behaviors, and problems with gambling through campus surveys • Promote campus-wide awareness of (1) pathological gambling as a mental health disorder that has a high rate of comorbidity with alcohol use and other addictive disorders, and (2) responsible gaming principles.

  20. Ten Policy Recommendations • Employ evidence-based strategies to identify and help students with gambling and alcohol problems. • Strengthen the capacity of counseling services to identify and treat gambling disorders. • Assess the ability of current counseling staff to meet the needs of students with gambling problems and provide additional training if necessary. • Encourage referrals to off-campus treatment providers who are certified specialists in the area of addiction treatment. • Specify the availability of services and promote them to students through a wide variety of media.

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