NCRG And Responsible Gaming Association Of New Mexico Team Up To Explore Impact Of Gambling

The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico (RGANM), a collaboration of many of the state’s Native American owned casinos, awarded NCRG with a grant of $300,000 to coordinate a competitive grants program on the impact of gambling on New Mexico, especially the state’s subpopulations. In December 2017, the NCRG awarded a grant of $291,868 toHBSA,a supporting organization of Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, to fund “New Mexico: A Study of at risk Youth and Adults.”

The aim of the grant is to examine gambling behavior among adolescents and adults across New Mexico with specific focus on subpopulations of race/ethnicity, military involvement, parents of minors, sexual minorities, housing unstable, and college students. Building on existing long-term relationships with prevention communities across the state, the investigators will use a culturally competent, mixed-methods data collection approach to gather data from youth and adults across all regions of the state including rural, frontier, tribal, and urban locations to estimate problem gambling prevalence and statistically model the association with co-occurring risk and protective factors.

The RGANM works to promote awareness of problem gambling and of the resources that are available across New Mexico. It provides educational materials about problem gambling, and funds treatment and counseling services. Among the association’s training efforts, every employee at every tribal member casino is required to take an annual class in recognizing problem gambling behaviors so that appropriate casino employees may offer that patron information and assistance.

The NCRG thanks the RGANM for its support of this important research.

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Recovery From Trauma, Addiction, Or Both

Recovery from Trauma, Addiction, or Both

It is widely understood that trauma and addiction have a close relationship, but what are the deeper inner workings? How can one identify past trauma and addictive tendencies that have developed as a result? Lisa Najavits, Director of Treatment Innovations, LLC and former NCRG Scientific Advisory Board member has carefully drawn out the links between trauma and addiction, and self-help strategies tailored to each individual reader in her latest book, Recovery from Trauma, Addiction, or Both…Strategies for Finding Your Best Self. Dr. Najavits is also the author of a bestselling book Seeking Safety, which was published in 2002 as a treatment manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse.

Dr. Najavits’s book Recovery from Trauma, Addiction, or Both takes things a step further than her previous book by offering a framework for recovery aimed at the suffering individual themselves, while also allowing professionals a supplemental source for therapy. This book aims to assist one in finding their ‘best self’ and offers strategies for identifying past traumas and triggers, for any stage of healing. She offers tips for those just starting to address trauma or addiction, all the way to those that have healed and are looking for way to be there for others going through time times. Dr. Najavits includes personal stories from others in many sections, giving you a relatable and real perspective of someone else that has suffered.

This book is a unique variation of educational content on subjects, such as safe coping skills, body and biology, and the language of trauma and addiction. It also offers a hands-on approach with self-help exercises, such as the safe behavior scale, questions to ask yourself, and quantitative portrayals of compassion. Although not intended as a substitute for health care professionals, this book offers the reader a guide towards achieving one’s best self and gives a beacon of hope for recovery.

Najavits, L. M. (2017). Recovery from trauma, addiction, or both: strategies for finding your best self. New York: Guilford Press.

It is widely understood that trauma and addiction have a close relationship, but what are the deeper inner workings? How can one identify past trauma and addictive tendencies that have developed as a result? Lisa Najavits, Director of Treatment Innovations, LLC and former NCRG Scientific Advisory Board member has carefully drawn out the links between trauma and addiction, and self-help strategies tailored to each individual reader in her latest book,Recovery from Trauma, Addiction, or Both…Strategies for Finding Your Best Self. Dr. Najavits is also the author of a bestselling bookSeeking Safety,which was published in 2002 as a treatment manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse.

Dr. Najavits’s bookRecovery from Trauma, Addiction, or Bothtakes things a step further than her previous book by offering a framework for recovery aimed at the suffering individual themselves, while also allowing professionals a supplemental source for therapy. This book aims to assist one in finding their ‘best self’ and offers strategies for identifying past traumas and triggers, for any stage of healing. She offers tips for those just starting to address trauma or addiction, all the way to those that have healed and are looking for way to be there for others going through time times. Dr. Najavits includes personal stories from others in many sections, giving you a relatable and real perspective of someone else that has suffered.

This book is a unique variety of educational content on subjects such as safe coping skills, body and biology, and the language of trauma and addiction. It also offers a hands-on approach with self-help exercises, such as the safe behavior scale, questions to ask yourself, and quantitative portrayals of compassion. Although not intended as a substitute for health care professionals, this book offers the reader a guide towards achieving one’s best self and gives a beacon of hope for recovery.

Najavits, L. M. (2017).Recovery from trauma, addiction, or both: strategies for finding your best self. New York: Guilford Press.

NCRG staffBook Reviewsaddictionrecoveryself-helptherapytrauma

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NCRG Releases White Paper On Responsible Gambling

A recently published article in the peer-reviewed journalAddiction & Research Theoryprovided a new model for evaluating responsible gambling research. To ensure its dissemination beyond academia, the NCRG produced a white paper summarizing the study’s findings. The white paper,Responsible Gambling: A Review of the Research, is available for download atwww.ncrg.org(click on Resources and White Papers).

Warning messages on gaming machines. Self-exclusion programs. Programs to limit money and time spent gambling. These are just a few responsible gambling strategies in use around the world. Responsible gambling (RG) refers to programs that seek to prevent or reduce gambling-related harms.

Despite the proliferation of responsible gambling programs and studies about them, the article “Responsible Gambling: A Synthesis of the Empirical Evidence” found only 29 studies that were published in peer-reviewed journals and that met high quality research standards(Ladouceur,

Shaffer, Blaszczynski, & Shaffer, 2016). This means there is a dearth of evidence for the safety and effectiveness of many of the responsible gambling programs currently in use. Moving forward, it is vital that research on responsible gambling strategies be published in peer review journals and that subjects be real world gamblers, not convenience samples of, for example, college students. The NCRG joins the article authors inencouragingallstakeholders concerned about responsible gambling to develop science-based RG programs that are safe and effective.

References

Ladouceur, R., Shaffer, P., Blaszczynski, A., & Shaffer, H. J. (2016). Responsible gambling: a synthesis of the empiricalevidence.Addiction Research & Theory, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2016.1245294

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Twinning: Genetic And Environmental Influences On Gambling Habits In Minnesota Twins

Although adolescents are particularly prone to environmental influences as they come into young adult age, few studies have looked at the effect that genetics versus environment has on gambling behaviors. Serena King, PhD, a 2006 New Investigator grantee of the National Center for Responsible Gaming, built upon her prior work looking at personality, gender, and family history in the prediction of college gambling, with this 2017 longitudinal twin study.

What is the aim of this review?

The aim of this study by King et al. (2017) is to examine genetic and environmental influences on gambling behaviors contributing to stability and change from adolescents to young adults aged 18-25. It was hypothesized that genetic factors become increasingly important from 18-25, and that genetic and environmental effect on gambling behaviors would be the same for women and men.

What did the Researchers do?

Researchers used the longitudinal, population-based Minnesota twin study to look at the effect of both genetics and environment on gambling behaviors in 18-25-year olds. Twin pairs were ascertained by birth records from 1978-1982 and eligibility was determined by proximity to the study and absence of physical or intellectual disability. The sample contained MZ (identical) twins (male: 252, female:233) and DZ (non-identical) twins (male: 252, female: 147) with an acceptance rate of 84% and follow up rate around 90%. Participating twins completed a questionnaire at both ages 18 and 25, which was used the South Oaks Gambling Screen (Lesieur and Blume, 1987) and additional questions pertaining to the amount of money spent on gambling. The researchers were then able to calculate the correlations between the twin pairs relative to genetics, shared environment, and non-shared environment.

Why is this important?

Twin studies are important to research, because they allow researchers to better determine whether a certain disorder is influenced more by genetics or by the environment. Gambling is known to run in families (Black et al. 2014), but the extent of genetic influence is relatively unknown, especially in young adults who are particularly prone to environmental influences. Twin studies have been used to assess nature versus nurture in a wide variety of addictions, but is relatively nonexistent in gambling research. An insight published inNature Reviews Genetics, highlights that “Twin and family studies provide strong evidence that addictions involve the interplay of genetic and environmental factors… (this) is crucial for the development of more effective interventions” (Li and Burmesiter, 2009). This study offers a novel longitudinal study looking at adolescent gamblers and the shifts in influence becoming young adults, and affords an opportunity to influence future interventions.

What did they find?

Researchers concluded that genetic factors increase in influence from 18-25, from 21% at age 18 to 57% at age 25 and this was consistent with both males and females. They also found that shared environmental influences between twin pairs are influential at age 18, but decreases from 18-25, 55% at age 18 and 10% at age 25. Finally, they concluded that the presence of disordered gambling is almost entirely genetic, while non-problem gambling is influenced almost entirely by shared and non-shared environmental influences.

Limitations

The study population was 98% Caucasian, which negatively affect generalizability to other populations. Additionally, this only looked at two time-points over a 7-year range and, therefore, any changes that occurred in between these two set points would likely be missed.

References

King, S. M., Keyes, M., Winters, K. C., Mcgue, M., & Iacono, W. G. (2017). Genetic and environmental origins of gambling behaviors from ages 18 to 25: A longitudinal twin family study.Psychology of Addictive Behaviors,31(3), 367-374. doi:10.1037/adb0000266

Li, M. D., & Burmeister, M. (2009). New insights into the genetics of addiction.Nature Reviews. Genetics,10(4), 225–231. http://doi.org/10.1038/nrg2536

Susser, E., Schwartz, S., Morabia, A., & Bromet, E. J. (2006). Twin Studies of Heritability.Psychiatric Epidemiology,375-388. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195101812.003.31

Lesieur, H. R., & Blume, S. B. (1987). The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): A new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers.American Journal of Psychiatry,144(9), 1184–8

Black, D. W., Coryell, W. H., Crowe, R. R., McCormick, B., Shaw, M. C., & Allen, J. (2014). A Direct, Controlled, Blind Family Study of DSM-IV Pathological Gambling.The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,75(3), 215–221. http://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.13m08566

NCRG staffIssues & Insightscollege gamblingdisordered gamblinggeneticsresearch

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19th Annual Agem/aga Golf Classic Presented By Jcm Global Breaks Fundraising Records, Brings In $155,000 For NCRG

The gaming industry broke all previous fundraising records at the 19th annual AGEM/AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global, bringing in an astounding $155,000. Proceeds directly benefit research conducted by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG). To date, the Golf Classic has raised more than $1.7 million to advance the NCRG’s important research.

“We are thrilled that the golf classic broke all records this year. The money will help NCRG find effective treatment for gambling disorder,” said NCRG executive director Russell Sanna.

“We are honored and grateful to have the opportunity to produce the AGEM/AGA Golf Classic. The NCRG, its staff, and its mission play a vital role in the gaming industry, and we are humbled to play a small role in helping them achieve success. We are thankful to the many players and sponsors from across the industry who joined us in raising the bar and breaking all previous fundraising records for this event,” said JCM Vice President Tom Nieman.

A total of 144 players joined 21 sponsors in supporting the Golf Classic. Premier sponsors included the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the American Gaming Association (AGA), Crane Payment Innovations (CPI), Global Gaming Expo (G2E), GGB Magazine, JCM Global, Konami, and Scientific Games.

Other sponsors included Ainsworth Game Technology, Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, DiTRONICS, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), HIKAM America, KIC Team, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), Patriot Gaming & Electronics, Sands Las Vegas, The US Playing Card Company, Topgolf, and Target Golf Association.

The NCRG extends its thanks to the Golf Classic sponsors for their extraordinary generosity and support of the NCRG programs.

NCRG staffResponsible Gaminggamblinggaminggolfscience

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NCRG Announces The 18th NCRG Conference On Gambling And Addiction

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is pleased to invite you to the 18th NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, the preeminent annual forum on gambling disorder and responsible gaming. Healthcare providers, researchers, public health professionals, gaming regulators and gaming industry professionals will convene in Las Vegas to learn about the latest research on gambling disorder and new responsible gaming strategies while exchanging ideas with attendees from all over the world.

Featuring one of the most diverse audiences of all gambling conferences, the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction strives to meet the varied needs and interests of all attendees by offering the following:

  • Talks by the leading innovators in the field of addiction and gambling disorder
  • Provocative debates about the new diagnostic code for gambling disorder
  • A special track designed to help regulators and the gaming industry develop safe and effective responsible gaming programs and regulations
  • Up to 13.75 continuing education hours approved by NAADAC, APA, NBCC and other certifying agencies for healthcare providers
  • A pre-conference workshop on screening, diagnosis and measuring treatment outcomes
  • A poster session providing researchers and students the opportunity to showcase their new research on gambling disorder

Visitwww.ncrg.org/conferencefor program details and online registration link.

Once again, the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction boasts the highest quality programming relevant to all stakeholders in the gambling field. We hope you can join us in Oct.!

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NCRG Welcomes New Program Officer

Shayna Adams has joined the NCRG staff as program officer. She will be responsible for assisting with the grants program, social media and NCRG educational programs. Shayna served as a research analyst for the Framingham Heart Study. She received the MPH degree at Boston University School of Public Health with specialization in epidemiology. Shayna is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany where she majored in human biology.

Departing program officer Nathan Smith has been accepted into a PhD program at the University of Florida. We thank Nathan for his outstanding contributions to the NCRG and wish him well in his new endeavors.

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NCRG Awarded $300,000 For Research On Subpopulations In New Mexico

The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico, a collaboration of many of the state’s Native American owned casinos, has awarded NCRG a grant of $300,000 in support of research on the subpopulations of New Mexico, including racial or ethnic subgroups such as Native Americans or Hispanics/Latinos, age-based subgroups such as older adults or youth, and/or highly targeted subgroups such as Native American young adults living in Albuquerque.

The NCRG is accepting applications for research projects onJuly 17, 2017. Applicants may request up to $127,000 per year for two years in direct costs. Applicants are welcome to propose using these funds to add a gambling component to existing studies focused on health issues for any of the New Mexico subpopulations identified above. Applications related to youth should include questions on gambling participation by game type and participation in video gaming.

Download the detailed announcement atwww.ncrg.org/research-center.

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NCRG Joins Supporters Of National Screening Day, March 14, 2017

Gambling Disorder Screening Day (Screening Day) is a one-day event held annually on the second Tuesday of March during Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Established in 2014 by the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, Screening Day has included supporters and screeners from Cambridge Health Alliance, Massachusetts and New England, the United States, and around the world. Screening Day has helped identify individuals in those regions who might have Gambling Disorder and should seek further assessment.

Although Gambling Disorder is a serious mental health disorder the can lead to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms, many cases go undetected, due to limited assessment for this problem. Screening Day addresses the imperative to detect gambling-related problems as early as possible, and the Division on Addiction encourages all organizations and providers to participate in this annual event.

The NCRG participates in Screening Day by distributing for free the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) in magnet form to treatment providers and others interested in conducting screening. The three-question BBGS was developed by the Division on Addiction with support from the NCRG. Contact Ariana Fox at NCRG to place your order (afox@ncrg.org; 978-338-6610).

Organizations and individuals interested in hosting a screening event on Screening Day should visit the Division’s Screening Day Toolkit (http://www.divisiononaddiction.org/gambling-disorder-screening-day-2017-toolkit/), which contains a variety of free online tools and resources, including a printable and customizable Screening Day Flyer, BBGS e-Screener (Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen) and a one-page article, What Is Gambling Disorder? The Division encourages organizations and individuals to share these tools and resources to educate staff and patients.

To host Screening Day on March 14, 2017, emailinfo@divisiononaddiction.org.

NCRG staffResponsible Gaming

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NCRG Awards Center Of Excellence Grant, Seed Grants

The NCRG recently awarded an NCRG Center of Excellence in Gambling Research and four Seed Grants. The center grant of $355,001 was awarded toDr. Wendy Slutskeat theUniversity of Missouri, Columbia. Dr. Slutske’s project seeks to fill the void of research on community-based studies of gambling disorder. Because so few disordered gamblers seek treatment, treatment populations cannot be considered representative of all disordered gamblers; hence, the need for broad community-based studies to answer questions about the origins and trajectory of gambling disorder.

Focusing on four unique datasets from Sweden, New Zealand, Australia and a US sample of reservation-dwelling Native Americans, Slutske’s team will pursue the following questions: (1) is living in a disadvantaged neighborhood a (potentially malleable) environmental cause of disordered gambling (DG), and if so, why? (2) where among the ~20,000 genes in the human genome are the variants associated with the risk for DG, and do these overlap with the genetic variants associated with the risk for other conditions such as alcohol use disorder?, (3) are there certain environments in which the genetic risk for DG is more likely to be expressed?, (4) when in the life course is DG more or less likely to first emerge?, and (5) are the causes of DG similar across the lifespan?

The NCRG also recently awarded four Seed Grants:

Seed Grant:“Gambling and Traumatic Stress: Analyses in Veteran and Community Samples”

Principal Investigator: Joshua B. Grubbs, PhD, Bowling Green State University

Awarded $34,500

Aim: Deepen the knowledge of the co-occurrence of gambling disorder and post-traumatic stress, by specifically examining the dispositional, motivational, and cognitive aspects of the known relationships between the two domains. Using two samples of veterans in a residential treatment program and an online, community sample of gambling adults, the project seeks to examine how symptoms of post-traumatic stress may be related to a tendency toward negative emotion (i.e., trait neuroticism), gambling-related cognitions (i.e., positive expectancies about gambling), and motivation to use gambling to cope with or escape from negative emotion.

Seed Grant:“The Effectsof Sensory Reward Cues on Decision Making under Risk in Healthy Volunteers and Problem Gamblers”

Principal Investigator: Mariya Cherkasova, PhD, University of British Columbia

Awarded $34,500

Aim: Understand the effects that sensory reward cues have on risky decision making in both healthy volunteers and disordered gamblers through a laboratory tasks; for example, measuring the impact of cues using eye tracking.

Seed Grant:“At‐risk Gambling in Credit Counseling: Prevalence and Feasibility of Brief Intervention

Principal Investigator: Paul Sacco, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Awarded $34,500

Aims: (1) To pilot screening for problem gambling in a sample of adults who seek services from a national consumer credit counseling organization; (2) To compare prevalence of at-risk gambling in consumer credit counseling users to national estimates; and (3) To evaluate the perceived acceptability and feasibility of gambling screening from the perspective of credit counselors.

Seed Grant:“The Role of Recovery Capital and Gender Differences in Recovery from Gambling Disorder – A Mixed Methods Design”

Principal Investigator: Belle Gavriel-Fried, PhD, Tel Aviv University

Awarded $34,500

Aims: (1) Examine the applicability of the concept of Recovery Capital to recovery from gambling addiction; and (2) probe gender differences in relation to their recovery and recovery capital. One-hundred and forty individuals who terminated treatment of gambling disorders in the previous 1-5 years will be asked to complete questionnaires including the gambling follow-up scale, the DSM-5 GD, the Assessment of Recovery Capital, and 3 open-ended questions.

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