The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol. 3(39) - Scratching Beneath the Surface

The scratch cards now offered by many state lotteries have become as ubiquitous in convenience stores as cold coffee and day-old doughnuts. Colorful game cards, usually costing a few dollars or less, can now be purchased in vending machines in public areas (e.g., in one Massachusetts convenience store, 30 different varie­ties of cards were available). Similar to the mechanisms of promotional game cards distributed by fast-food restaurants and mail-order firms, the scratch-off cards sold by state lotteries often involve the removal of a silver coating to reveal instantly a win or a loss. As with other lottery games, minors are... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 3(38) - Danger Zone

The nature of the relationship between gambling and other risk behaviors has been the subject of a sizable body of research. Numerous aspects have been investigated from the neurobiology of risk-seeking to personality traits associated with particular risky behaviors. Proimos, DuRant, Pierce, and Goodman (1998) recently published a paper that sets out to contribute to this literature. In 1995, the Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey was adminstered to Vermont students in grades eight through twelve. The survey consisted of 91 questions, and was given on a voluntary and anonymous basis to all students who were present on a particular school... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 3(37) - News from St. Louis

In 1978, The President’s Council on Mental Health (PCMH) released a report identifying the limitations of existing psychiatric epidemiological research and the need for new studies. The PCMH hoped that by using the most up-to-date diagnostic methodologies, the new research would produce accurate prevalence rates for a wide range of mental disorders as well as a meaningful evaluation of the need for and use of clinical services. Address­ing the concerns of the report, NIMH awarded grants to five sites for the implementation of new, comprehensive epidemiological studies. The respective studies of the five recipients (Yale, Johns Hopkins, Washington University, Duke,... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 3(36) - Impulsivity and Personality Disorders

Comings’ (1998) research on the genetic commonalities of pathological gambling and several other disor­ders suggested the former might be considered part of a spectrum disorder that defies the current, discrete diagnostic categories used in mental health (see WAGER 3:30). If the notion of a spectrum disorder is accepted, as Comings proposed, then DSM-IV’s classification of pathological gambling as an impulse disorder may require reconsideration. Of course, readers should not relegate their DSM-IVs to the recycling bin just yet. In addition to the fact that a radical revision is unlikely anytime in the near future, recent research by Steel and Blaszczynski... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 3(35) - From the Hill: Gaming on the 'Net

In one of Its last actlons before the month-long August recess, the United States Senate voted 90-10 to pass a bill prohibiting gambling on the Internet The leglslatlon, sponsored primanly by Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) is considered to be the most sweeping federal regulation of the Internet since the controverslai Communications Decency Act of 1996 (1) Two similar bills are currently maklng their way through the House of Representatives Bill H R 4350, introduced by Congressmen Stearns, Oxley, and Largent, iS similar in structure and content to the Senate version H.R. 2380, sponsored by Congressmen Goodlatte and Lobiondo is considerably different.... Read more →