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Prevention of Problem Gambling
April 1999, Vol II, Issue 4

*A Monthly Newsletter on Problem Gambling Prevention Information, Research, and Initiatives*

"No progress has ever been made against an epidemic by treating only the casualties."

RISK REDUCTION AS A PREVETION STRATEGY FOR YOUTH

All gambling for youth under age 18 is illegal, yet we know that 87% of high school youth in a 1996 Connecticut study reported they gambled for money at one time. In March, Roger Svendsen of the Minnesota Institute of Public Health discussed the topic of prevention of problem gambling among youth at workshops in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He explained that gambling is another of the risky behaviors that youth engage in. Svendsen offered the following suggestions when dealing with the issue of gambling and youth: (1) help young people identify characteristics of low-risk gambling; (2) practice setting personal guidelines; and (3) teach capacity building to address concerns around gambling behaviors of friends and other they care about. We will address the first two suggestions in this issue. Developing a set of personal guidelines for low-risk, legal, and appropriate choices about whether, when, and how much to gamble can provide direction for personal decisions. Making choices based on these suggestions may reduce the risk of developing a gambling problem. These guidelines can also be used as a basis for talking to someone whose gambling concerns you.

Characteristics of Low-Risk Gambling
Low-risk gamblers know that over time, nearly everyone loses.
Low-risk gambling is done socially, with family, friends, and colleagues - not alone.
Low-risk gambling is done for limited amounts of time, both in frequency and duration.
Low-risk gambling always has predetermined acceptable limits for losses.

Setting Personal Guidelines
The decision to gamble is a personal choice.
One should not gamble to feel accepted.
Gambling is not essential for having a good time.
Before gambling, an acceptable level of loss should be set.
Borrowing money to gamble should be avoided and discouraged.

Other Guidelines There are times when people should not gamble: When one is under the legal gambling age When the form of gambling is illegal When gambling interferes with work or family responsibilities When in recovery from compulsive/pathological gambling, chemical dependency or other addictions When hoping to make up for gambling losses Gambling should be avoided in certain high-risk situations: When feeling lonely, angry, depressed, or under stress When coping with the loss or death a loved one When trying to solve personal or family problems Svendsen points out that parents are a key group in prevention efforts as they play a critical role in building the capacity of youth. Young people who engage in the least risky behaviors cite their parents as the most significant influence and those that engage in the most risky behaviors cite their peers. We must include parents and other adult role models as we teach young people these strategies. For further information on Roger Svendsen's work, please contact: Roger Svendsen, Director of Program Development, Gambling Problems Resource Center, 2829 Verndale Ave., Anoka, MN 55303, 612-427-5310.