Big props to LaDonna Coy of Technology in Prevention, Learning for Changes, Inc. for sharing this slideshow.
Showing posts with label Tips for Parents|Educators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips for Parents|Educators. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 06, 2008
Overall youth gambling down, but Internet's lure draws concern, DHS reports
Oregon DHS News Release, 5/29/08
General contact: Ken Palke, 503.947.5286
Program contact: Wendy Hausotter, 503.945.9703
Overall youth gambling down, but Internet's lure draws concern, DHS reports
One of every 20 Oregon adolescents may be a problem or at-risk gambler and many youngsters are being drawn to free gambling-type games on the Internet, according to a recent study sponsored by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS).
The study findings, which are in a report titled "Oregon Youth and Their Parents: Gambling and Problem Gambling Prevalence and Attitudes," will be used to refine and develop Oregon's model problem gambling prevention programs.
Oregon's techno-savvy youth indicate that they're gambling for free on the Internet. Many are playing less poker, which used to be the number one gambling activity among youngsters.
"The emergence of free gambling on the Internet is no surprise, but is of real concern," said Paul D. Potter, DHS problem gambling services manager. "Ads for online games pop up, and kids think that if money's not involved there's no risk.
"Kids don't realize they're being primed to play for money later, which is illegal. They can also become a victim of identity theft," he said. "Parents need to be vigilant about their kids' Internet use."
Despite the increase in Internet play, gambling among Oregon 12- to 17-year-olds has declined significantly in the past decade, primarily due to a change in attitudes about young people and gambling.
"When parents learn more about the potential risks of youth gambling, they do a better job of helping their kids make different choices about using their leisure time," said Potter. "Our statewide and local prevention and awareness efforts are paying off, especially when you realize that during the same decade opportunities to gamble have increased."
Potter said Oregon's awareness-raising job isn't finished, because the survey shows that despite evidence to the contrary, most parents and kids still don't see gambling as a behavior that can lead to serious problems, even addiction.
In the past 10 years the number of youths playing the Lottery has declined 80 percent. Potter praised the vigilance of casinos and the Oregon Lottery in helping to reduce underage gambling.
"Selling to anyone under the age of 18 is a violation of a retailer's contract with the Lottery and could put the business's ability to sell our games in jeopardy," said Carole Hardy, Oregon Lottery assistant director for marketing. "We are diligent about providing our retailers with training about the perils of underage play and other responsible selling programs."
According to the study, parents who gamble become role models in their households. Chances are double that their children will become at-risk gamblers and four times as likely that they will become problem gamblers.
Approximately 1.3 percent of Oregon adolescents are problem gamblers, which is narrowly defined as having an extreme pattern of behavior. Another 4.6 percent score as at-risk gamblers, which means that several risk factors are present. Young people who gamble are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, get into fights, skip school and engage in other risky behaviors, according to the study.
"When we hear parents say, ‘What's the harm in kids playing poker? At least I know where they are. They could be doing much worse things.', it tells us that they haven't seen the real data," said Potter. "If they did, they'd think twice."
Oregon parents and children in 1,550 families were interviewed by researchers from May to August 2007. The study found that 63 percent of adolescents gambled at least once, 46 percent gambled in the past year and three percent gamble weekly or more often. Boys gamble on a more regular basis than girls, and older teens are more likely to gamble regularly than younger ones.
The report recommends these improvements to awareness and prevention programs for youth gambling:
- Use alternative approaches to help Oregon youth with gambling problems, such as teaching parents, teachers, counselors and other youth workers to understand that youth gambling is a problem and recognize its symptoms.
- Integrate problem gambling information into existing school-based curricula on healthy choices and addictions.
- Target awareness efforts to athletic coaches and similar groups because of higher problem gambling rates among school sports participants.
Information on problem gambling is available on the Web at 1877mylimit.org.
To reach the free and confidential Oregon Problem Gambling Hotline, call 1-877-MY-LIMIT or visit 1877mylimit.org.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Survey: Free online gambling puts teens at risk
Source: Oregon's Statesman Journal, May 27, 2008
Survey: Free online gambling puts teens at risk
Perceived as safe, it can groom youths for wager activities
By Eunice Kim, Statesman Journal
Sex. Drugs. Alcohol. They're all topics that parents, teachers and community leaders tend to talk to children about in hopes of preventing risky behavior.
But there is another issue officials think should be discussed: online gambling.
Gambling for free on the Internet has become the most popular gambling activity among youths in Oregon, according to a new survey.
That concerns officials who say it introduces teenagers to gambling and grooms them for other forms in which money is waged.
"You're learning that gambling is fun, it's stimulating, and it's risk-free," said Wendy Hausotter, problem gambling prevention coordinator with Oregon Department of Human Services. "That's not true at all."
There's an estimated 1,700 gambling sites on the Internet that offer everything from casino-type gambling to poker to bingo. Many offer the option of gambling for free or for money.
The survey, commissioned by DHS last year, found that 33 percent of youths ages 12 to 17 — an estimated 94,659 teens — gamble online for free.
It's an activity that is convenient and easily accessible, officials say, because it can be done at home at any time, often under no supervision from parents. Its novelty, high level of stimulation and low level of physical exertion also appeal to youths, many of whom are tech-savvy.
"It's the game of choice among youth, which is surprising for us," Hausotter said. "It wasn't on the radar screen."
The last survey done on youth gambling in Oregon was in 1998. It didn't ask teens and their parents about free online gambling.
At the time, waging money on card games such as poker was the most common type of gambling among Oregon youths. It's now a close second.
Gambling on the Internet for money, which is illegal, has remained fairly unpopular, with less than 1 percent of teens participating last year, officials said. Overall, gambling among youths has gone down in the past 10 years.
"We're not saying don't gamble," said Yvonne Kays, a prevention health educator with Marion County Health Department. "Our message is, you need to recognize the risk factors and when it becomes a problem … It's a problem when you're spending too much time or money (doing it)."
Gambling, officials said, is when you bet something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome. That something often is money but also can be time, emotion or attention.
The fact that free online gambling doesn't involve money can be a draw for youths, who think they're not doing anything harmful, officials said.
Also, the odds of winning tend to be higher when there's no money waged, Kays said. That can lead kids to think they're lucky or skillful, or that they can win money at other games.
"It disconnects them from the reality of the situation," Hausotter said. "We're afraid that they're going to want to do this more and more. If they do this with money, they're at risk for many things."
That includes loss of money and identity theft, officials said. Online gambling, which is growing in popularity, also is unregulated, so there's no guarantee of a payout.
And even if money is not bet, officials have concerns, given that gambling in general has been correlated with other "risk" behaviors such as drinking.
This year's Oregon Healthy Teens survey found that the percentage of 11th-graders who binge drank, carried a handgun or attacked someone in the past 30 days was higher among those who gambled than those didn't.
Hausotter said state officials plan to meet with gambling prevention specialists next month to figure out how to curb free online gambling and get information out to parents and youth.
In Marion County, the issue already is being addressed in problem gambling prevention presentations given at schools, Kays said. The presentations include a national award-winning youth video that debunks gambling myths.
Deidre Eriksen, a health teacher at Jefferson Middle School, discusses gambling in her health classes along with other risks such as drugs and alcohol abuse. With the Internet, she said, students now can gamble without leaving their homes.
"It's so much more accessible now than it was before," said Eriksen, who received the Outstanding Teacher Participation award last year from the Oregon Problem Gambling Committee. "Now they just have to flip the computer on. It's being inundated in our lives, and we need to learn how to control it."
Statewide, a plan to tackle online gambling likely will be developed this summer in time to hit schools in the fall, Hausotter said. Strategies could include written material and classroom activities.
Internet safety is expected to be a focus, with officials urging parents to pay attention to yet another activity that children could be doing online.
"Just about every kid has a casino in their bedroom if they want," Hausotter said.
ekim@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6721
Survey results
Results of the survey "Oregon Youth and Their Parents: Gambling and Problem Gambling Prevalence and Attitudes" found that:
Survey: Free online gambling puts teens at risk
Perceived as safe, it can groom youths for wager activities
By Eunice Kim, Statesman Journal
Sex. Drugs. Alcohol. They're all topics that parents, teachers and community leaders tend to talk to children about in hopes of preventing risky behavior.
But there is another issue officials think should be discussed: online gambling.
Gambling for free on the Internet has become the most popular gambling activity among youths in Oregon, according to a new survey.
That concerns officials who say it introduces teenagers to gambling and grooms them for other forms in which money is waged.
"You're learning that gambling is fun, it's stimulating, and it's risk-free," said Wendy Hausotter, problem gambling prevention coordinator with Oregon Department of Human Services. "That's not true at all."
There's an estimated 1,700 gambling sites on the Internet that offer everything from casino-type gambling to poker to bingo. Many offer the option of gambling for free or for money.
The survey, commissioned by DHS last year, found that 33 percent of youths ages 12 to 17 — an estimated 94,659 teens — gamble online for free.
It's an activity that is convenient and easily accessible, officials say, because it can be done at home at any time, often under no supervision from parents. Its novelty, high level of stimulation and low level of physical exertion also appeal to youths, many of whom are tech-savvy.
"It's the game of choice among youth, which is surprising for us," Hausotter said. "It wasn't on the radar screen."
The last survey done on youth gambling in Oregon was in 1998. It didn't ask teens and their parents about free online gambling.
At the time, waging money on card games such as poker was the most common type of gambling among Oregon youths. It's now a close second.
Gambling on the Internet for money, which is illegal, has remained fairly unpopular, with less than 1 percent of teens participating last year, officials said. Overall, gambling among youths has gone down in the past 10 years.
"We're not saying don't gamble," said Yvonne Kays, a prevention health educator with Marion County Health Department. "Our message is, you need to recognize the risk factors and when it becomes a problem … It's a problem when you're spending too much time or money (doing it)."
Gambling, officials said, is when you bet something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome. That something often is money but also can be time, emotion or attention.
The fact that free online gambling doesn't involve money can be a draw for youths, who think they're not doing anything harmful, officials said.
Also, the odds of winning tend to be higher when there's no money waged, Kays said. That can lead kids to think they're lucky or skillful, or that they can win money at other games.
"It disconnects them from the reality of the situation," Hausotter said. "We're afraid that they're going to want to do this more and more. If they do this with money, they're at risk for many things."
That includes loss of money and identity theft, officials said. Online gambling, which is growing in popularity, also is unregulated, so there's no guarantee of a payout.
And even if money is not bet, officials have concerns, given that gambling in general has been correlated with other "risk" behaviors such as drinking.
This year's Oregon Healthy Teens survey found that the percentage of 11th-graders who binge drank, carried a handgun or attacked someone in the past 30 days was higher among those who gambled than those didn't.
Hausotter said state officials plan to meet with gambling prevention specialists next month to figure out how to curb free online gambling and get information out to parents and youth.
In Marion County, the issue already is being addressed in problem gambling prevention presentations given at schools, Kays said. The presentations include a national award-winning youth video that debunks gambling myths.
Deidre Eriksen, a health teacher at Jefferson Middle School, discusses gambling in her health classes along with other risks such as drugs and alcohol abuse. With the Internet, she said, students now can gamble without leaving their homes.
"It's so much more accessible now than it was before," said Eriksen, who received the Outstanding Teacher Participation award last year from the Oregon Problem Gambling Committee. "Now they just have to flip the computer on. It's being inundated in our lives, and we need to learn how to control it."
Statewide, a plan to tackle online gambling likely will be developed this summer in time to hit schools in the fall, Hausotter said. Strategies could include written material and classroom activities.
Internet safety is expected to be a focus, with officials urging parents to pay attention to yet another activity that children could be doing online.
"Just about every kid has a casino in their bedroom if they want," Hausotter said.
ekim@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6721
Survey results
Results of the survey "Oregon Youth and Their Parents: Gambling and Problem Gambling Prevalence and Attitudes" found that:
- Six in 10 Oregon adolescents surveyed (63 percent) have gambled at some time in their lives
- 46 percent have gambled in the past year
- 3 percent gamble once per week or more often
Comparison
Comparing 1998 and 2007 survey results:
- Gambled in the past year: 66 percent in 1998, 46 percent in 2007 (an estimated 131,949 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds)
- Gambled on the Internet for free: 33 percent in 2007 (an estimated 94,659 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds)
- Gambled on the Internet for money: 0.3 percent in 1998, 0.6 percent in 2007 (an estimated 17,210 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds)
- Gambled via cards: 31 percent in 1998, 32 percent in 2007 (an estimated 91,503 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds)
Getting help
- Hotline: 1-877-my-limit
- Web site: http://1877mylimit.org/: live chat, instant messaging and e-mail available
Risk factors
Risk factors for youth problem- gambling include:
- Living in a single-parent household
- Being male
- Living in households with incomes less than the median
- Playing school sports
- Having lost more than $50 in a month
- Starting gambling before entering eighth grade
Saturday, December 29, 2007
DHS poster calendar shows ills of problem gambling
DHS News Release December 26, 2007
General contact: Ken Palke, 503.947.5286 Program contact: Wendy Hausotter, 503.945.9703
Thousands of Oregonians will be admiring the artistic endeavors of a dozen middle school students during 2008 on an Oregon Department of Human Services color calendar designed to increase awareness of problem gambling.
Approximately 75,000 Oregon adults experience problems related to their gambling, which also impacts children and families.
Earlier this year the DHS Addictions and Mental Health Division sponsored its fifth annual middle school poster contest to help students learn more about the risks of gambling and to alert parents and educators that problem gambling can be a serious health issue.
A dozen posters were chosen from several hundred entries submitted by students around the state. Many posters were created during Problem Gambling Awareness Week in March. Gift certificates ranging from $25 to $100 were awarded to two teachers and the 12 students selected.
The student artists are (grade and school at time of submission listed):
General contact: Ken Palke, 503.947.5286 Program contact: Wendy Hausotter, 503.945.9703
Thousands of Oregonians will be admiring the artistic endeavors of a dozen middle school students during 2008 on an Oregon Department of Human Services color calendar designed to increase awareness of problem gambling.
Approximately 75,000 Oregon adults experience problems related to their gambling, which also impacts children and families.
Earlier this year the DHS Addictions and Mental Health Division sponsored its fifth annual middle school poster contest to help students learn more about the risks of gambling and to alert parents and educators that problem gambling can be a serious health issue.
A dozen posters were chosen from several hundred entries submitted by students around the state. Many posters were created during Problem Gambling Awareness Week in March. Gift certificates ranging from $25 to $100 were awarded to two teachers and the 12 students selected.
The student artists are (grade and school at time of submission listed):
- January: Megan Tilley, 7th grade, Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson
- February: Amy Senestraro, 6th grade, Ashland Middle School, Ashland
- March: Marissa Parr, 8th grade, Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson
- April: Julie Meyer, 8th grade, Heppner High School, Heppner
- May: Trace Byrd, 8th grade, The Dalles Middle School, The Dalles
- June: Chandra Sinnott, 8th grade, Central Linn High School, Halsey
- July: Brianna Dweg, The Dalles Middle School, The Dalles
- August: Katy Cheung, 8th grade, Monroe Middle School, Eugene
- September: Natalie Tolmachoff, 8th grade; Mark Twain Middle School, Silverton
- October: Jacob Young, 7th grade, Monroe Middle School, Eugene
- November: Bailey White, 7th grade, Ontario Middle School, Ontario
- December: Sydney Sprague, 7th grade, Monroe Middle School, Eugene
Ten thousand calendars were circulated to many local DHS offices, schools and community organizations and are available free of charge. Telephone 503.945.6187 for details.
Free problem gambling treatment is available statewide. To reach the free and confidential Oregon Problem Gambling Hotline, telephone 1-877-MY-LIMIT or visit 1877mylimit.org.
DHS manages the Lottery-financed problem-gambling program as part of its services to prevent and help Oregonians overcome the negative effects of addictions. More information about problem gambling is available on the DHS Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/addiction/gambling.shtml#aware.
DHS will soon launch a similar search for art for next year's problem gambling awareness calendar. Middle schools and community groups working with middle school aged children will receive information in January. The deadline for the 2009 Problem Gambling Awareness Art Search will be March 21. An entry form is also available by calling 503-945-6187.
(Note to editors: Student calendar artwork is available in PDF format. Call 503.947.5286). ###
Monday, December 03, 2007
Video: "Teen Gambling: It's a Risky Deal"
Teen Gambling: It's a Risky Deal" is an award-winning eight-minute "Mythbuster" themed video featuring Oregon youth. The video is educating, entertaining, and easy to plug in to class discussions. For ordering information, contact Greta Coe, Resource & Technical Assistance Coordinator, Oregon Problem Gambling Services.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
New video highlighting gambling’s risks to youth
DHS News Release June 18, 2007
Contact: Jim Sellers 503-945-5738
Program contact: Bob Miller 503-945-6185
A new video that takes a fast-moving, often humorous approach to highlighting the risks of youth gambling is being made available free to middle school teachers and other youth leaders by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
The 8-1/2-minute video, “Teen Gambling: It’s a Risky Deal,” features catchy graphics, interviews with middle-school students from Burns, Eugene, John Day and Ontario, and two Oregon adolescent actors as anchors.
“Although students who gamble often start in middle school, most schools don’t address gambling as part of their health curriculum,” said Bob Nikkel, Oregon Department of Human Services assistant director for mental health and addictions. “This short video will give those who work with youth a chance to engage them and start the discussion about gambling’s potential risks.”
[View complete news release here.]
KOIN-TV News story: 'More teens try hand at gambling' (6/19/07)
Contact: Jim Sellers 503-945-5738
Program contact: Bob Miller 503-945-6185
A new video that takes a fast-moving, often humorous approach to highlighting the risks of youth gambling is being made available free to middle school teachers and other youth leaders by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
The 8-1/2-minute video, “Teen Gambling: It’s a Risky Deal,” features catchy graphics, interviews with middle-school students from Burns, Eugene, John Day and Ontario, and two Oregon adolescent actors as anchors.
“Although students who gamble often start in middle school, most schools don’t address gambling as part of their health curriculum,” said Bob Nikkel, Oregon Department of Human Services assistant director for mental health and addictions. “This short video will give those who work with youth a chance to engage them and start the discussion about gambling’s potential risks.”
[View complete news release here.]
KOIN-TV News story: 'More teens try hand at gambling' (6/19/07)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Oregon's first problem gambling prevention video debut
June 5, 2007 (Eugene) -- The first Oregon problem gambling prevention video debuted at Monroe Middle School in Eugene. The video was commissioned by Oregon Problem Gambling Services, and produced by Allied Video Productions in conjunction with Marcia Martin & Associates, LLC.
KVAL-TV News story/video: 'Local students make video to prevent problem gambling' (6/5/07)
KMTR-TV News story/video:'New video: Gambling prevention for teens' (6/5/07)
[Photos Top: News cameras capture the premiere as students watch. Bottom: Michele Armand from KVAL-13 TV interviews Monroe Middle School teacher Sarah Kerr-Daly about the new video.]
___
Full story:
Lane County Problem Gambling Prevention: Youth Video Media Center
Sunday, April 15, 2007
In-School Problem Gambling Prevention Handout
To: In-school prevention folks.
It looks like I'll have a one-shot opportunity to give a one-page (double-sided) handout of information to public Middle and Jr. High School students in the county this school year. I'm wondering what would be a best choice. I'm thinking I could use the Oregon DHS "Gambling is Risky Business. Know the Odds" brochure for youth (Publication DHS 91062). But, I'd like to add information about setting healthy limits into the white space at the end of the brochure. The content I'm thinking of adding is set out below. The symbols to the left of each point are really bullets (didn't translate well into the blog format).
What do you think about this idea? Do you have a better idea?
Mary Ann
Setting Healthy Limits
Guidelines for responsible gambling:
- Gamble only for fun.
- Use only fun money (like you would if you went bowling or to a movie).
- Think of the money you lose as the cost of your entertainment.
- Set a dollar limit and stick to it.
- Set a time limit and stick to it.
- Accept losing as part of the game.
- Don’t borrow money to gamble.
- Don’t let gambling interfere with family, friends, school, or work.
- Don’t gamble to win back losses.
- Don’t use substances that impair your decision making.
- Don’t use gambling as a way to cope with emotional or physical pain.
- Know the law on underage gambling.
- Talk to a counselor if you think you have a problem.
Agency Name Address Contact Numbers
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
DHS News Release: Problem Gambling Poster Contest
DHS news release
Feb. 5, 2007
Contact: Jim Sellers 503-945-5738
Program contact: Jeff Marotta 503-945-9709
Middle school students invited to enter calendar
art contest
Oregon middle-school students are invited to enter artwork for a 2008 calendar that will be used to increase problem gambling awareness.
An estimated 75,000 adult Oregonians experience problems related to their gambling, which also impacts children and families.
"This is a chance for students both to learn more about the risks of gambling and to capture the attention of parents and educators who may not have problem gambling on their radar as a health issue to look out for," said Jeff Marotta, problem gambling services manager in the Oregon Department of Human Services. He said teachers are invited to encourage students to participate during Oregon Problem Gambling Awareness Week, March 5-11.
Artwork should be entered on white, letter-size paper with the name of the student artist, grade level, school and teacher's name on the back. Entries should be submitted to DHS's Greta Coe at 500 N.E. Summer St., N.E., E-86, Salem, OR 97301.
Deadline for submissions is March 30.
More detail about the contest, including suggested themes for artwork, is available on the DHS Web site. Gift certificates ranging from $25 to $100 will be awarded to 12 students and two teachers.
DHS manages the Lottery-financed problem-gambling program as part of its services to prevent and help Oregonians overcome the negative effects of addictions.
# # #
As of this post, local Oregon papers covering the story include:
Corvallis Gazette Times: http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2007/02/06/news/community/6loc08_gambling.txt
Newport News Times: http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/community/community17.txt
Feb. 5, 2007
Contact: Jim Sellers 503-945-5738
Program contact: Jeff Marotta 503-945-9709
Middle school students invited to enter calendar
art contestOregon middle-school students are invited to enter artwork for a 2008 calendar that will be used to increase problem gambling awareness.
An estimated 75,000 adult Oregonians experience problems related to their gambling, which also impacts children and families.
"This is a chance for students both to learn more about the risks of gambling and to capture the attention of parents and educators who may not have problem gambling on their radar as a health issue to look out for," said Jeff Marotta, problem gambling services manager in the Oregon Department of Human Services. He said teachers are invited to encourage students to participate during Oregon Problem Gambling Awareness Week, March 5-11.
Artwork should be entered on white, letter-size paper with the name of the student artist, grade level, school and teacher's name on the back. Entries should be submitted to DHS's Greta Coe at 500 N.E. Summer St., N.E., E-86, Salem, OR 97301.
Deadline for submissions is March 30.
More detail about the contest, including suggested themes for artwork, is available on the DHS Web site. Gift certificates ranging from $25 to $100 will be awarded to 12 students and two teachers.
DHS manages the Lottery-financed problem-gambling program as part of its services to prevent and help Oregonians overcome the negative effects of addictions.
# # #
As of this post, local Oregon papers covering the story include:
Corvallis Gazette Times: http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2007/02/06/news/community/6loc08_gambling.txt
Newport News Times: http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/community/community17.txt
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
'Poker for kids? Think twice before anteing up'
November 20, 2006
by Jeff Marotta
Published in the Salem Statesman-Journal on December 2, 2006 [original article here].
So what's the fuss? I received this e-mail from a concerned mother of two:
"I want to know how much I should be worrying about gambling and the health of my kids. They watch poker tournaments on TV, their friends wear clothing with references to poker, and I heard my son talk about playing poker with friends.... What is a mother to do?"
She is not alone in wondering about the effects of ongoing exposure to gambling. Today's is the first generation to grow up in a society where gambling is widely accepted, advertising is ubiquitous and gambling activities are commonplace.
Research indicates that 60-90 percent of youth engage in gambling, and that youth problem gambling rates are 2-4 times higher than those of adults. Surveys of Oregon teens tell us drugs, alcohol and gambling often travel together, yet many parents see gambling as a relatively safe pastime and encourage it as an alternative activity.
I told the concerned mom that, although we don't know the ultimate effects of today's gambling popularity, we do know both children and adults can and do get caught up in gambling in a way that is harmful to themselves and others around them.
This is not to say that if your child is gambling you need to panic -- most kids engage in some form of gambling and most don't develop gambling problems. But you do need to recognize that gambling carries risk and approach it accordingly, as you would tobacco use, drug use or fastening your car's seatbelt.
What do you look for if you're concerned your child might have a problem? Watch for signs such as lying about gambling, gambling superseding other activities, using money to gamble that's supposed to be used for other things, borrowing money to gamble, or stealing and letting schoolwork suffer.
by Jeff Marotta
Published in the Salem Statesman-Journal on December 2, 2006 [original article here].
So what's the fuss? I received this e-mail from a concerned mother of two:
"I want to know how much I should be worrying about gambling and the health of my kids. They watch poker tournaments on TV, their friends wear clothing with references to poker, and I heard my son talk about playing poker with friends.... What is a mother to do?"
She is not alone in wondering about the effects of ongoing exposure to gambling. Today's is the first generation to grow up in a society where gambling is widely accepted, advertising is ubiquitous and gambling activities are commonplace.
Research indicates that 60-90 percent of youth engage in gambling, and that youth problem gambling rates are 2-4 times higher than those of adults. Surveys of Oregon teens tell us drugs, alcohol and gambling often travel together, yet many parents see gambling as a relatively safe pastime and encourage it as an alternative activity.
I told the concerned mom that, although we don't know the ultimate effects of today's gambling popularity, we do know both children and adults can and do get caught up in gambling in a way that is harmful to themselves and others around them.
This is not to say that if your child is gambling you need to panic -- most kids engage in some form of gambling and most don't develop gambling problems. But you do need to recognize that gambling carries risk and approach it accordingly, as you would tobacco use, drug use or fastening your car's seatbelt.
What do you look for if you're concerned your child might have a problem? Watch for signs such as lying about gambling, gambling superseding other activities, using money to gamble that's supposed to be used for other things, borrowing money to gamble, or stealing and letting schoolwork suffer.
Another suggestion I gave the concerned mom was to talk to her kids about gambling using these simple guidelines:
- Notice opportunities to discuss gambling. Help children make sense out of what they see on television, in the news and in the community.
- Discuss rules and expectations for behavior, and follow through with consequences.
Be specific. When you talk about gambling, mention examples such as buying a lottery ticket, betting on a sports event, playing bingo. - Be clear about your own values but avoid sweeping statements (all gambling is bad) or threats ("if I ever catch you betting money..."). Kids feel immortal, so scaring them doesn't work; threats invite rebellion.
- Emphasize balance and choice. Facing choices about gambling and other risky behaviors can be a good way to practice making good decisions about many life issues.
As a parent, you play the most important role in preventing problem gambling behaviors in your children. You may want to think twice before buying your daughter a "Pink Poker Night" set or, for that matter, any one of the hundreds of gambling products that will adorn your newspaper's ad inserts.
A better gift is talking to your kids about the risks of gambling and helping them understand the best bets made in life aren't made in card games.
Jeff Marotta is problem gambling services manager in the Oregon Department of Human Services Addictions and Mental Health Division. For additional information on youth gambling, visit the
DHS Problem Gambling Services Web site or call the Oregon Problem Gambling Help Line at 1-877-2-STOP-NOW.__
Comments? Additional comments on Dr. Marotta's article can be found at the Statesman-Journal website.
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