Archive for category: Uncategorized

Sept 25-26, 2016
The goal of the conference was to bridge the gulf between research and practice by demonstrating how new studies can make treatment, screening, public health policy, regulations and responsible gaming more effective in addressing the needs of people who suffer from gambling disorder.

• Clinicians and public health professionals earned up to 13.5 continuing education hours approved by the leading national and state certification agencies as well as explore innovative approaches to assessment and treatment.
• Researchers showcased their new studies in the poster session and networked with other investigators focused on gambling disorder.
• Gaming industry professionals learned how to develop and evaluate evidence-based responsible gaming programs.
• Gaming regulators and public officials discussed the importance of using peer-reviewed research to inform gaming regulations.

‍

Oct. 7-8, 2018
The goal of this conference was to bridge the gulf between research and practice by demonstrating how new studies and innovative programs can help to increase the effectiveness of treatment, screening, public health policy, regulations and responsible gaming initiatives.

• Clinicians and public health professionals earned up to 14 continuing education hours approved by the leading national and state certification agencies as well as explore innovative approaches to treatment
• Researchers showcased their new studies in the poster session and networked with other investigators focused on gambling disorder
• Gaming industry professionals learned how to develop and evaluate innovative and evidence based responsible gaming programs
• Gaming regulators and public officials discussed the importance of using peer-reviewed research to inform gaming regulations,
• All stakeholders had the opportunity to explore culturally diverse ways of promoting responsible gaming and programs to address gambling disorder

‍

The July 1, 2011 deadline for the National Center for Responsible Gaming’s (NCRG) large and early stage investigator grants is right around the corner. The NCRG hasallocated more than $700,000to fund research that advances our understanding about gambling disorders in 2011, and the last opportunities to apply for this year’s funding are quickly approaching. Make sure you submit your letter of intent for these two funding opportunities soon!

Large Grants

The Large Grants program provides up to two years of support for discrete, specified, circumscribed research projects related to gambling disorders. Applicants may request up to $75,000 in direct costs per year for a period not to exceed 24 months. The NCRG expects to award two Large Grants in this funding cycle. To learn more about last year’s awardees, visit ourproject grants page.

To apply, download thegrant announcementandapplication form. Submit your letter of intent by July 1, 2011.

Early Stage Investigator Grants

The Early Stage Investigator Grants program is intended to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available to address the research needs of the field of gambling disorders. Eligible applicants are within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree or within 10 years of completing medical residency. Applicants may request up to $65,000 in direct costs for a period not to exceed 24 months.

Applications for this award must propose a research plan that:

1. Has intrinsic research importance in the area of prevention and treatment of gambling disorders, and
2. Will serve as a suitable vehicle for learning the methodology, theories and concepts needed for a well-trained, independent researcher in the area of gambling research.

To apply, download thegrant announcementandapplication form. Submit your letter of intent by July 1, 2011. The NCRG expects to award one Early Stage Investigator Grant in 2011.

For more information on the application process, please visit theNCRG Research Centeror contact Christine Reilly, Senior Research Director, atcreilly@ncrg.org. You can also find examples of previously funded studies on ourFunded Project Grantspage.

Questions or comments? Leave them in the comments section below!

NCRG staffICRG Newsaddictionsannual reportdeadlinesfundinggamblinggrantsmoneyNational Center for Responsible Gamingresearchstudentsupdates

Next month, the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) will embark on its fifth annual Road Tour. Each year, the NCRG Road Tour travels to a new city to share information about the latest research on gambling disorders and make key stakeholders aware of the science-based programs and resources the NCRG has to offer. This year, the NCRG Road Tour will be visiting Boston, Mass., from July 26 – 27, and is excited to be partnering with theMassachusetts Council on Compulsive Gamblingfor several of the events.

The Road Tour will kick off on Tuesday, July 26, with a workshop for treatment providers entitled, “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Problem Gambling,” led by Lisa Najavits, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Najavits will present information on her program ‘Seeking Safety,’ an evidence-based treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders, and her research on problem gambling in PTSD populations. This treatment provider workshop is a great opportunity for clinicians to earn continuing education hours and listen to a top-notch researcher’s results to help inform their own practice. The free workshop is co-sponsored by theMassachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.

Also on Tuesday, the NCRG and the Massachusetts Council will host a meeting with the Council’s College Outreach Program. Alan Feldman, member of the NCRG board of directors and senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Resorts International; Christine Reilly, senior research director for the NCRG; and Jim Wuelfing, CPP-R, NRPP, prevention director for the Council, will discuss the latest research on gambling among college students. We are very excited to learn more about the Council’s efforts to reach the college population and explain more about our new resourcewww.CollegeGambling.org.

On Wednesday, July 27, the NCRG is bringing researchers, legislators, government officials, industry members, responsible gaming partners and problem gambling coalitions together at a breakfast to learn more about the NCRG’s role in funding groundbreaking research and advancing public education about gambling disorders and responsible gaming. Alan Feldman and Christine Reilly will be leading this discussion.

The final event of the NCRG Road Tour will be a luncheon workshop during which research investigators in the Boston, Mass. area can learn more about the NCRG’s research funding opportunities. Christine Reilly will be joined by Dr. Najavits, and they will discuss the NCRG’s grant-review process, the key ingredients of a proposal competitive for funding by the NCRG and examples of previous NCRG-funded research.

While all of the NCRG Road Tour events are by invitation only, you can stay informed by visitingGambling Disorders 360°or by following the NCRG onFacebookandTwitter. For additional information about the Road Tour, please contact Amy Martin, communications and outreach manager for the NCRG, atamartin@ncrg.orgor 202.552.2689.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and questions, including suggestions for where the NCRG should visit in 2012, in the comments section below.

NCRG staffICRG NewsBostoncasinogamblinggambling industryMassachusettsMassachusetts Council on Compulsive GamblingmediaracetrackresearchRoad Tourstakeholderstreatment providers

Toll-free hel

p lines have been a common first line of intervention for addictive disorders for many years with successful statewide tobacco help lines leading the way. While there has been research on gambling help lines since the 1990s, to our knowledge there has not been a study tracking help-line callers from their initial call to attendance at a counseling session – until now. With the percentage of people with a gambling disorder who seek treatment from a counselor, psychologist or self-help group such as Gamblers Anonymous at only between 7 and 12 percent (Slutske, 2006), the ability of a help line to promote attendance at a counseling session is vitally important. A new study published inPsychology of Addictive Behaviorsprovides data on the matriculation of people with gambling disorders from calling the help line to attending a counseling session and suggests potential best practices for increasing the number of callers seeking treatment (Weinstock et al., 2011).

Research Results

The researchers tracked data from more than 2,900 unique callers to the West Virginia Problem Gamblers Help Network (WVPGHN) from 2000 to 2009. The sample consists of all callers who were offered a referral for an in-person assessment and excludes people who did not qualify because they were not West Virginia residents, were calling inappropriately (i.e. prank calls) or their calls ended prematurely. Of the 2,900 callers who were offered a referral for treatment, 75 percent accepted the referral. Of that 75 percent, 72 percent attended the in-person assessment. Overall, 55 percent of people who were offered an in-person assessment by the help line staff attended the session.

Best Practices

The researchers suggest some methods for increasing assessment attendance. For example, the WVPGHN used a “warm transfer” method for referrals wherein the caller stayed on the line as the help line staff called a local clinician and scheduled an appointment. The “warm transfer,” along with other methods, such as scheduling the appointment within 72 hours of the call, have been shown to increase the caller’s attendance at the in-person assessment.

There are also demographic and clinical factors that influence whether or not callers attended the assessment. For example, callers with more severe problems and callers who may have been coerced to call (due to legal problems or pressure from a family member) were more likely to accept the referral and attend the session. Gender also played a role in attendance, with women being more likely to call the help line and make an appointment, but men more likely to attend the session. The researchers hypothesize that female callers may have more unstable home environments, a factor that can cause them to miss appointments with greater frequency (e.g. because of an inability to secure childcare or transportation).

More information about the article is available on thePsychology of Addictive Behaviors‘ website. Do you have thoughts or questions? Is there anything that you think would increase the number of people who seek treatment for gambling disorders? Let us know in the Comments section below.

References

Slutske, W. S. (2006). Natural recovery and treatment-seeking in pathological gambling: results of two U.S. national surveys.American Journal of Psychiatry,163(2), 297-302. doi:163/2/297 [pii] 10.1176/appi.ajp.163.2.297

Weinstock, J., Burton, S., Rash, C. J., Moran, S., Biller, W., Krudelbach, N., Phoenix, N., et al. (2011). Predictors of engaging in problem gambling treatment: Data from the West Virginia problem gamblers help network.Psychology of Addictive Behaviors: Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors. doi:10.1037/a0023240

*Photo by Flickr creative commons user willy_ochayaus

NCRG staffResearch Updategambling help linesinterventions for problem gamblingnew researchtreatment for pathological gambling