The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol 3(51) - State of the WAGER, 1998

This issue marks the end of the WAGER’s third year of publication and the completion of volume three. Each week, an average of nearly 8,000 people read the WAGER. With the advent of the on-line edition in 1999, we expect this number to increase dramatically. The editors wish to thank all readers, and cite with particular gratitude the roughly 300 who responded to the survey sent out by fax last month. Publishing on-line will greatly increase our editorial flexibility while maintaining the same mission. Please note that in order for us to re-allocate resources toward publication on the Internet, we... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 3(50) - Money Matters

At the close of calendar year 1997, 66.5 million Americans owned mutual funds, accounting for 78% of the the $4.490 trillion in assets held in mutual funds. With over 6,700 bond, equity, and money market funds from which to choose, investors have more options than ever before (1). Certain funds assemble their portfolios with specific aims in mind, investing in equities with particular characteristics. Thus, the market offers investors funds that specialize in high technology, international companies, high-risk ventures, and numerous other themes. In recent years, investment companies have offered “socially responsible” mutual funds. Although the definition of “socially responsible”... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 3(49) - It's a GAS

The creation of a new instrument for measuring psychological phenomena represents a substantial process that involves considerably more than the mere formulation of survey questions. Before a SOGS (South Oaks Gambling Screen) or a MAGS (Massachussetts Gambling Screen) earns acceptance among clinicians and researchers, it must be tested and retested for reliability, possible bias, its ability to measure the phenomena for which it was intended, and numerous other parameters. The development process usually takes months, or even years to complete. Hofstra University’s Jeffrey Kassinove recently presented the preliminary validity results for the Gambling Attitude Scales (GAS), designed to assess a... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 3(48) - Gambling and Suicide: Data from the Marines

Each year, 243 of the roughly 1.4 million United States military personnel take their own lives. This data ranks suicide as the third highest cause of death for the military population. Responding to this fact, the Commander of the Pacific Forces commissioned a study to investigate and identify risk factors associated with suicidal behavior. A questionnaire was developed for this special study, with items relating to 137 risk factors that investigators believed may be associated with suicidality. Between 1991 and 1994, the investigators tracked all suicidal behavior, both attempted and completed, among the 79,000 Marines on duty in the Pacific.... Read more →