The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER Vol. 8(44) - Learning from History: Prior Substance Abuse Treatment

Researchers have demonstrated high rates of substance abuse among pathological gamblers (see WAGER 8(13)). Because co-occurring gambling related problems and substance abuse is common, it is important to understand how current and past substance abuse might influence gambling behavior and treatment. To this end, Ladd and Petry (Ladd & Petry, 2003) compared pathological gamblers with and without substance abuse treatment histories (SATH) and found they differed on many important dimensions. The researchers recruited gamblers from 350 consecutive admissions to two gambling treatment programs. Of the 341 gamblers who agreed to participate, 208 were entering a state-funded gambling treatment program and... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 8(43) - The Curse of the Bambino – Don’t Bet on It

The Curse of the Bambino1 has notched another year in its proverbial belt. As Red Sox fans mourn their losses and Yankees fans exult in yet another triumph, few on either side can help but mention the Curse. The Curse is but one of a wealth of superstitions rampant in baseball. Just watch Nomar Garciaparra’s pre-batting rituals, Roger Clemens’ kissing of the Babe’s monument before every game he pitches at Yankee Stadium, or any diehard fan’s strategic use of the rally cap2. This year, the potential World Series match-up between two teams who haven’t seen a World Series win since... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 8(42) - Drugs and Gambling: The Effect of a New Casino

There are many factors that communities must consider when deciding whether to open a casino and the protection of vulnerable populations (e.g., the elderly) from disordered gambling is typically high on the list. Research has shown that one particularly vulnerable population is substance abusers (e.g., Feigelman, Wallisch, & Lesieur, 1998; Rounsaville et al., 1991). This week the WAGER looks at a recent study that examined whether the introduction of a new casino affected the prevalence of problem gambling in a sample of treatment-seeking drug-dependent subjects in Ontario (Toneatto, Ferguson, & Brennan, 2003). Toneatto, Ferguson and Brennan (2003) studied 853 (564... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 8(41) - Finding Order Among Disorders

"First things first, but not necessarily in that order." -Doctor Who Only a few studies have examined temporal sequencing of the signs and symptoms of addiction disorders (e.g., Shaffer & Eber, 2002; Simpson & Tucker, 2002). Perhaps the research focusing on temporal sequencing of addictive behaviors is scant because of the considerable difficulties associated with getting accurate and thorough data about the onset of illnesses. This lack of precedent does not translate to a lack of interest, however. Temporal sequencing studies can illuminate how disorders emerge and progress and perhaps how some disorders can contribute to the development of or... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 8(40) - Biology, Addiction, and Gambling: What’s the Matter with Kids Today?

Several recent WAGER issues have focused on the role of impaired decision-making in problem gambling or other forms of addiction. For example, WAGER 8(34) described the neuroanatomical regions implicated in decision making processes and impairments. In this week’s WAGER, we review work by Chambers and Potenza (2003) that links the development of these neuroanatomical regions, impulsivity, and increased prevalence of gambling during adolescence. Chambers and Potenza (2003) argue that problem gambling prevalence in adolescence can be explained by increases in impulsivity due to normal neurodevelopment at that age. Their argument is that: prevalence and incidence rates of problem gambling are... Read more →