A Framework for Conducting Gambling Impact Assessments
Gambling involves risking something of value — usually money — in hope of winning something else of value. It can be done almost anywhere, from a casino to a gas station to an online video game or at a sporting event. Gambling is often thought of as a fun, recreational activity; however, it can also lead to serious problems for some people. It can cause significant social, economic, and personal costs and benefits, not only for the gambler but also for his or her significant others and society at large.
In general, people who gamble spend more than they win and lose more than they gain. This makes them susceptible to gambling disorders, which can be very difficult to treat. This is especially true for young people, who are particularly vulnerable to gambling addictions. It is important to recognize problem gambling in order to get help for it. The good news is that there are now treatment programs specifically designed for young people.
The most common signs of problem gambling are financial difficulties and a decline in personal and social relationships. Problem gambling can also contribute to other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. These symptoms are very important to identify and treat early on, as they can escalate rapidly.
For these reasons, it is important to evaluate gambling behaviors in primary care settings. However, evaluating patients for gambling pathology can be challenging, because many patients will not admit to their gambling behavior. Some may even be embarrassed about it. It is important to frame the evaluation as a health issue, so that resistance can be reduced and patients can receive support and services.
In the past, most gambling impact studies have focused on monetary impacts at the individual and community/society levels. Unfortunately, these types of assessments have not included the full range of negative impacts. It has been difficult to quantify the effects that are not directly measurable in terms of dollars, such as those related to emotional stress and relationship problems.
The goal of this article is to provide a framework for conducting impact assessments that take into account all the negative and positive costs and benefits of gambling. By using this framework, researchers and policymakers can compare the costs and benefits of different gambling policies. This will help them determine which ones will have the greatest impact on reducing or increasing gambling-related harms and benefits. In addition, the framework will be useful for determining which populations should be targeted for intervention and how to design those interventions. The framework also provides a foundation for developing future research and training in the area of gambling. It will ultimately help improve the quality of gambling research, practice, and policy in all countries. In short, the framework offers a roadmap to developing a more effective and sustainable gambling policy. This work was funded by NIDA (grants K12-DA00366 and K12-DA00167). The authors wish to thank Dr. Sean Sullivan and Drs. Suck Won Kim and Loreen Rugle for their support.
