The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER Vol. 9(4) - Gambling in Canada one more time…

Large health surveys can provide insight into the health risks associated with gambling as well as provide a detailed picture of population segments with gambling-related problems. These surveys help us discover the prevalence of behaviors or qualities that are common or rare in a given population without having to rely on anecdotes or more narrow studies that might be misleading about general trends. Cycle 1.2 of the Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health and Well-being (CCHS 1.2) provides information about gambling behavior in provinces throughout Canada using the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI; see WAGER 9(3) for a description... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 9(3) - Developing New Screening Instruments: A Look at the CPGI

As researchers and clinicians continue to unravel the factors that contribute to problem gambling, it is critical for science to develop improved measures for the recognition of unhealthy and pathological gambling. New and modified versions of existing problem gambling scales, such as the shortened South Oaks Gambling Screen (shortened-SOGS, Strong, Breen, Lesieur, & Lejuez, 2003) (see WAGER 8(49) for a full description), are common methods of integrating new knowledge into practice. The Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI, Ferris & Wynne, 2001) is a new instrument designed to assess risky gambling behavior and establish disordered gambling prevalence in general populations. This... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 9(2) - Building a Better Economic Model: Weighing Costs and Benefits of Gambling

Estimates of the average yearly costs associated with a problem gambler vary over a wide range of $560 to $52,000 (Productivity Commission, 1999). Collins and Lapsley (2003) examined the reasons for such large discrepancies in cost estimates in a recent review. Their paper highlights the difficulties in quantifying the costs and benefits of gambling and offers suggestions for developing reliable psycho-economic impact analyses. This week, The WAGER reviews the basics of their cost estimation strategy. Defining private and social costs. When calculating the total economic cost of an activity, Collins and Lapsley point out that it is important to include... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 9(1) - “Play smart. Don’t bet more than you can lose.” Is anyone listening?

State lotteries use the persuasive power of advertising to attract consumers. In response to unprecedented gambling growth and availability, states in the United States are beginning to seek a balance in advertising by sponsoring advertisement campaigns to educate the public about the potential harms associated with gambling. For example, in 2000 Indiana spent $11.5 million on advertising for its state lottery (Najavits et al., 2003). During the same period, the Indiana Problem Gambling Program also initiated a state-wide campaign to educate the public about the signs of problem gambling (PG) and to increase awareness about state resources. To evaluate the... Read more →

Wag the Dog

The political season is heating up and the spin doctors are working overtime. As Michael Moore offers his “factual” look at 9/11 and Fox News offers “fair and balanced” coverage, it is an opportune time to consider the role of spin and politics in social science, particularly the field of addictions. Politics and social opinion uniquely affect the social sciences. Physical science concerns itself with providing information about how the natural world works. In physical science, the political and ethical debate usually comes after the science. Do we use our knowledge of atomic theory to create nuclear plants, our knowledge... Read more →