NYS OASAS Releases Findings from Adolescent and Adult Problem Gambling Surveys

ALBANY, NY (11/05/2007)(readMedia)-- The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today released two surveys assessing problem gambling; one detailing findings on adult New Yorkers and a second which focused on students from grades seven through 12.

The surveys, conducted in 2006, are the first on the issue of problem gambling since it became part of the addiction prevention, treatment, recovery services of OASAS in 2005. They are being released in conjunction with 9th Annual Conference on Problem Gambling, co-sponsored by OASAS and the New York Council on Problem Gambling Nov. 7-8 in Hauppauge, N.Y.

"These findings give us critically important information and insights into the prevalence of problem gambling in New York," said OASAS Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo. "New Yorkers, young and old, need to understand that gambling is a serious problem when it interferes with a healthy and productive life."

The surveys, available on the OASAS Web site (www.OASAS.state.ny.us) found that 10 percent of the students, roughly 140,000, experienced problem gambling in the past year. Another 10 percent, or an additional 140,000, indicated that they may be at risk of developing problem gambling.

Problem gambling for young people is defined as meeting two or more of the criteria for pathological gambling as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. A youth meeting one of the diagnostic criteria is deemed by OASAS to be at-risk of developing problem gambling.

For adults, the problem gambling designation is met with a positive response for at least one of the diagnostic criteria.

The most serious form of problem gambling is pathological or compulsive, in which gambling becomes a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet increasing sums of money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when trying to stop, trying to recoup losses with more gambling and loss of control.

Among youths, the most frequent activity in those who experienced problem gambling in the past year was playing cards, followed by betting on games of skill such as their own activities, sporting events, dice and lottery games.

Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of the students surveyed engaged in at least one gambling activity in the past year. Thirty-four percent had gambled in the past month and 12 percent of the students gambled four or more times in the past month.

The adolescent survey compiled responses from 5,800 students who completed anonymous written questionnaires in 49 randomly selected school districts across New York.

"Parents need to understand that gambling may not be just harmless entertainment for their children and be looking for the signs which may indicate a compulsive behavior developing," Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said. "Those signs can include a preoccupation with gambling activity, lying about the activity or stealing in order to get money for gambling."

The adult survey, conducted to households via telephone interviews to 5,100 New Yorkers, found that approximately 5 percent of adults experienced problem gambling in the past year and may be in need of treatment services.

Among these 668,000 adults, the most prevalent activity was buying lottery tickets, followed by casino betting, betting on office pools, raffles or charitable games, playing cards, betting on sports events, and betting on games of skill such as playing pool or other personal activities.

Among adults, 0.4 percent indicated a positive response to five or more of the diagnostic criteria, indicating pathological gambling and a statewide estimate of 49,000 individuals. Possible pathological gambling, indicated by three to four of the criteria, was 0.5 percent and would affect about 75,000 New Yorkers.

Adults at risk of developing pathological gambling, with positive responses to one or two of the criteria, totaled approximately 544,000 individuals. Diagnosis-related questions for both surveys involved: preoccupation with gambling; tolerance, or needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money; withdrawal, meaning restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down on gambling behavior; feelings of loss of control; trying to escape from personal problems through gambling; chasing, meaning repeated gambling to try to recoup earlier losses, lying about gambling; committing illegal acts to pay for gambling; and risking relationships. The adult survey also included the issue of bailout, meaning asking others to loan money to alleviate a desperate money situation caused by gambling.

"With this survey, we at OASAS can focus on the assessment and develop an action plan to prevent and treat problem gambling," Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said. "Our study shows this is a problem for adults, and even worse, among youths and we've got to address this."

OASAS, which oversees the nation's largest addiction services system, has expanded services to 20 counties for gambling prevention programs and 15 treatment programs. Training and credentialing for hundreds of professionals in the prevention and treatment field is ongoing, including the recent grandparenting credential of over 635 credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors (CASACs) with a gambling specialty designation or credentialed prevention specialist (CPP). In addition, OASAS is establishing regulations for a stand-alone gambling credential for mental health and licensed professionals throughout New York.

Outpatient chemical dependency regulations were revised this year to require screening and assessment for problem gambling. Included in the $4.8 million budget for gambling this fiscal year are awareness initiatives for adolescents, college students and seniors called "Not Just a Game of Chance." A campaign targeting adult problem gamblers will be unveiled during National Problem Gambling Awareness Week in March 2008.

In an agreement announced in May 2007, the New York Lottery Division, provided $500,000 to OASAS for funding of under-age gambling media campaigns, training and collaboration on awareness initiatives.

Future OASAS initiatives will be aimed at increasing gambling prevention programming to all counties and a request to the Legislature for a social impact study on gambling as well as an expansion of the current problem gambling helpline.

Anyone seeking information or assistance in the area of problem gambling can find resources at the OASAS Web site, www.OASAS.state.ny.us or by calling the New York Council on Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-437-1611.

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