NCRG Year In Review: 2014 Highlights, Accomplishments And Thank-you's!
- First and foremost, thanks to our multi-year, pledged donors whose generous and continuing support provides NCRG with stability and the ability for long-term planning:Las Vegas Sands Corp.,MGM Resorts International,Caesars Entertainment,Boyd Gaming Corporation,Penn National Gaming Inc.,Wynn Resorts,Reed Exhibitions, andChurchill Downs Incorporated. We also deeply appreciate the companies and individuals who contributed to the NCRG through participation in the 2014 Gaming Hall of Fame, theAGEM/AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global, and the 2014 NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction as sponsors.
- The integrity of NCRG research is protected by a firewall between the source of NCRG funding and the research projects selected for support. Thanks to the members of theScientific Advisory Board, which makes the final decisions about grant awards, and the independent peer review panels that evaluated proposals to NCRG in 2014. Their commitment to scientific merit has yielded the highest quality research as demonstrated by the publication of NCRG-funded studies in high impact, competitive, peer-reviewed journals.
- In 2014, the NCRG awarded nearly $1 million in research grants in support of various investigations of gambling disorder, from studies of risk factors among Native American youth to research exploring the resistance of disordered gamblers to treatment.
- The NCRG launched BetOnU, the first evidence-based, online, confidential screening/brief intervention tool for college students atwww.collegegambling.org. The screening instrument was developed and tested by Dr. Clayton Neighbors at the University of Houston with support from NCRG.
- Disseminating findings of NCRG research to professionals and the public remains an important part of the NCRG mission. In 2014, NCRG educational programs and social media reached 500,000 people.
- The 2014 NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction received the best reviews ever in its 15th year, with an overwhelming majority attendees rating the program as superior to or better than average when compared with other conferences on the same topic. Patrick Kennedy, former congressman, brought the attendees to their feet with his rousing talk on how the stigma of addiction prevents sound public health policy.
- The NCRG Webinar Seriescontinued to provide high quality educational programming reaching an audience of nearly 1,000 in 2014. A highlight was the first presentation of ground-breaking research on the impact of the Affordable Care Act for people with a gambling disorder. Special thanks toGlobal Gaming Expo (G2E)for support of this program.
- Thanks to our 2014 treatment provider workshop co-sponsors:Sandia Casino & Resort, theNevada Council on Problem Gamblingand theDivision on Addictionat Cambridge Health Alliance.
- Finally, congratulations to the 2014 recipients of the NCRG Scientific Achievement Awards: Catharine Winstanley, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, and Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., University of Florida
Stay tuned for news about 2015 initiatives!
