The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

STASH, Vol. 11(3) - Suicidal behaviors among people with substance use or gambling disorders

Research indicates that suicide attempts are more prevalence among people experiencing chemical dependencies, compared with the general population (Wilcox et al., 2004; Roy, 2003). However, less is known about predictors of suicide among people with behavioral expressions of addiction. This week, as part of our Special Series on Gambling Disorders, we review a study that sought to identify prevalence and predictors of suicidal behaviors among patients seeking outpatient treatment for substance use disorders or gambling disorders (Manning and colleagues, 2015). Methods Researchers recruited 2,193 treatment seekers in Singapore to join a prospective study called the Treatment Outcome Monitoring program. The... Read more →

Problem gambling: a community perspective

Editor's Note: This Editorial from Victor Ortiz, MSW of the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling is part of our month-long Special Series on Gambling Disorders. I have been a social worker and provider for nearly twenty five years, and have spent the last seven years in the area of problem gambling at the Mass Council on Compulsive Gambling. Currently, I serve as Senior Director of Program and Services, and direct state-wide efforts in the area of treatment development, trainings, and services of problem gambling. In November 2011, Massachusetts passed legislation for expansion of gambling. Although this created excitement for many... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 11(3) - Up in smoke: How nicotine affects betting behavior

Smoking and alcohol use are commonplace among gamblers and at gambling establishments. Moreover, studies have shown higher rates of tobacco and alcohol dependence among people with gambling problems than in the general population (Petry et al., 2005; Kessler et al., 2008). However, little is known about the direct effects of tobacco and alcohol on gambling behavior. This week, as part of our Special Series on Gambling Disorders, we review an article that investigated the effects of nicotine and alcohol on video-lottery terminal (VLT) gambling behavior (Barrett et al., 2015). Methods The researchers recruited participants through local newspaper advertisements (n=16; 11... Read more →

Compulsive gambling is an illness to which I lost nearly everything. Nearly.

Editor’s Note: We are grateful to Ms. Jodie Nealley for sharing her story with readers of The BASIS. Throughout, we have provided links to journal articles and other sources to illustrate how aspects of Jodie’s story coincide with scientific findings.This Editorial is part of our month-long Special Series on Gambling Disorder. To understand my story you need to understand my addictions. When I was 25, I quit a three pack a day cigarette habit. When I was 37, I quit a heavy drinking problem. Like my father before me, I was proud of myself for quitting. But unlike my father,... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 11(3) - Unable or unwilling? Public perception of chemical and behavioral addictions

Mental health disorders, particularly substance-related disorders, are often accompanied by stigma (Crisp, Gelder, Goddard, & Meltzer, 2005). This stigma likely serves as a barrier to treatment for many individuals (Keyes et al., 2010). People who wouldn’t think twice about seeking treatment for body ailment might struggle alone with the debilitating consequences of addiction. However, researchers and providers have worked to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, including addiction. Alcohol and drug use disorders are now viewed by many as disorders with genetic and neurochemical components (Pescosolido et al., 2010). This week, as part of our Special Series on Gambling Disorders,... Read more →

Have the conversation with those who served.

Editor's Note: This Editorial from Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, is part of our month-long Special Series on Gambling Disorders. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The goal of this grassroots campaign is to increase public awareness and educate healthcare providers about gambling addiction. Veterans are a crucial group to assess for gambling problems. The co-founders of the National Council on Problem Gambling knew first-hand the risk factors for addiction and the effectiveness of treatment for military personnel. Monsignor Joseph Dunne was an Army chaplain in WWII and Korea who was severely wounded in... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 20(3) - It’s not a race: Gender, telescoping, and gambling-related problems among the general population

Alcohol and gambling research has suggested that men and women progress to addictive behavior at different paces, with women progressing more quickly from initiation to disorder (i.e., the telescoping effect; e.g., Tavares et al., 2001). However, the clinical populations from which researchers have drawn these conclusions are not likely to be representative of people who develop of problems, generally, due to the infrequency with which individuals seek help (Slutske, 2006). This week, as part of our Special Series on Gambling Disorders, The WAGER reviews a study that addresses this possibility by examining the telescoping effect for gambling among a large... Read more →

Introduction to the Special Series on Gambling Disorders

Gambling Disorder is a mental health condition that negatively affects millions of people and has ripple effects on family members, friends, and society in general. Over the last few decades, research into the causes and consequences of Gambling Disorder has helped produce effective prevention and treatment strategies. However, more research and more public education are needed—particularly as communities and those already at high risk for gambling problems are faced with the challenge of adapting to new gambling opportunities. This month, as part of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, The BASIS focuses on Gambling Disorder. Each of our weekly science reviews... Read more →