The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The Wager, Volume 8(22) - Does Drug Use Impact Gambling Recovery?

A host of patient characteristics, including engagement in other risky behaviors, can influence the efficacy of pathological gambling treatment. For example, Milton et al. (2002) reported that individuals who used drugs prior to treatment for pathological gambling were about two and a half times more likely to drop out of treatment. In this WAGER, we discuss a study designed to illuminate the effects of lifetime drug use on gambling treatment outcome. Toneatto et al. (2002) recruited 200 study participants through newspaper advertisements, referral by the gamblers’ significant others, and referral by treatment agencies to receive brief treatment and participate in... Read more →

The Wager, Volume 8(21) - Thinking Outside the Box: Using Treatments for Substance Abuse to Inform Treatments for Pathological Gambling

The diagnostic criteria for substance dependence are characterized by tolerance, withdrawal, and narrowing of interests to drug seeking and ingestion (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Pathological gamblers also develop tolerance and need to spend greater sums of money to achieve the same level of excitement as before on lower levels of wagering. Pathological gamblers experience withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness and irritability, and will narrow their range of interests to focus on gambling, at the expense of obligations to family and work (Griffiths, 1993; Lorenz & Yaffee, 1986; Wray & Dickerson, 1981). Petry (2002) considered that the similarities between symptoms of... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 8, Editorial, Special Feature Film Editorial and Forum for: Owning Mahowny

The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The WAGER, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classics. Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Dan Mahowny), Minnie Driver (Belinda), John Hurt (Victor Foss), Maury Chaykin (Frank Perlin), Jason Blicker (Dave Quinson), Chris Collins (Bernie), Roger Dunn (Bill Gooden), Matthew Ferguson, Sonja Smits (Dana Selkirk), Ian Tracey (Detective Ben Lock). Directed by: Richard Kwietniowski. Screenwriters: Maurice Chauvet and Richard Kwietniowski. Welcome to a special editorial brought to you by The WAGER and The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 8, Editorial, Caution - Bingo May Be Hazardous To Your Health

The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The WAGER, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. #152 © Copyright 2002, all rights reserved worldwide Gambling and the Law® is a registered trademark of Professor I Nelson Rose, Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, CA The Legislature and Governor of the state of Washington recently passed a law warning us about the dangers of... Muslim terrorists with box-cutters? No. Anthrax on postage stamps? Guess again. Global warming? West Nile Fever? AIDS? Nope. The lawmakers have decided that the threat facing... Read more →

The Wager, 8(20) - Problem Gambling in Norway

As legalized gambling has continued to expand into new regions, there has been an increased emphasis in the international community to determine pathological gambling prevalence rates (e.g., Abbott, 2001; Bondolfi, Osiek, & Ferrero, 2000; Sproston, Erens, & Orford, 2000). Götestam and Johansson (2003) conducted the first survey of gambling habits and pathological gambling prevalence in Norway. This week’s WAGER presents the results of their study. Götestam and Johansson (2003) conducted a random-digit dialing survey of 4820 Norwegian households. The authors required respondents to be at least 18 years of age; of 4213 eligible respondents, 2014 (948 male) completed the interview... Read more →

The Wager, Volume 8(19) - Run for the Roses

With last weekend’s Kentucky Derby signaling the beginning of the prestigious Triple Crown events, it seems fitting to focus this week’s WAGER on pari-mutuel gambling. The Derby winner, Funny Cide, was a 12:1 long shot that edged out the horse heavily favored to win. Conventional wisdom has it that many gamblers think they can increase their winnings by researching the horses and tracks to make skillful picks. Ladouceur, Giroux and Jacques (1998) conducted a series of experiments to test this assumption - and, like this year’s Derby upset - their findings might surprise you. To determine the impact of knowledge... Read more →