Missouri Gaming Commission
Missouri Gaming Commission
A record number of conference attendees took part in the 21st Annual Conference on Problem Gambling, Prevention, Research, Recovery and Treatment (and the fourth annual Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse), which was held June 8-10 at the Marriott Downtown in Kansas City. The National Council on Problem Gambling, the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling and the Midwest Consortium on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse joined together to provide an exceptional training opportunity for addiction counselors across the region and around the world. More than 500 attendees took advantage of this fabulous opportunity to learn about the latest treatment techniques, innovative prevention programs, new research and cutting-edge responsible gaming policy.
The 2007 conference was a synergistic effort and a unique joining of two annual conferences – the National Council on Problem Gambling’s annual conference on problem gambling, and the regional Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse.
Anne M. Herron, director of the Division of State and Community Assistance at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), delivered the opening keynote address, “ Addiction and Problem Gambling: The State of the State’s Involvement” on the morning of June 8.
Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling delivered a keynote address on “Future Issues in Gambling and Problem Gambling;” Dr. Jon Grant, co-director for a clinic for Impulse Control Disorders at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, presented a keynote on “Problem Gamlbing and Substance Abuse Best Practices: Pharmacology and Cravings,” and additional keynotes were provided by Ken Winters, Ph.D., director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, and Thomas E. Freese, Ph.D., Director of Training for UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP) and director of the Pacific Southwest Addictions Technology Center (PSATTC). Winters’ presentation was on developmental perspectives on youth, gambling, and substance abuse, and Freese discussed methamphetamine and the brain.
The 2007 conference featured more than 40 general session and breakout presentations, as well as 15 poster presentations. Power Point presentations from the conference and other conference news will be available soon on the Midwest Conference Web site, www.888betsoff.org
Counselors, clinicians and other treatment providers now have more resources at their fingertips with the introduction of a Problem Gambling Tool Kit (PGKIT) at the 21st Annual National Conference on Problem Gambling Prevention, Treatment, Research and Recovery on June 8 in Kansas City at the Downtown Marriott. The PGKIT provides basic problem gambling facts, referral and treatment information for medical and mental healthcare professionals to help screen and assess for compulsive gambling as a potential co-occurring disorder with substance abuse, mood disorders and addictive behaviors.
The kit was developed based on requests from substance abuse counselors, mental health therapists, primary care physicians and social service workers who are increasingly confronted with consumers in need of services that address problem gambling issues,” said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). “The rate of co-occurrence of problem or pathological gambling among people with substance abuse disorders has been reported as ranging from 9 to 16 percent. At a minimum, the rate of problem gambling among people with substance use disorders is four to five times that found in the general population.”
Whyte said the kit was developed by the NCPG and the Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators (APGSA) and is supported by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The PGKIT includes the following materials:
“It is important to note that this material does not mitigate the need for specific training when treating a problem gambler,” Whyte said.
The PGKIT is available free of charge through CSAT’s National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information. For more information about the conference or the conference schedule, visit www.ncpgambling.org.
Plans are being made for the 2008 Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse, which will be in St. Louis on August 13-15, 2008. You can download an Adobe Acrobat PDF of the ‘Save the Date’ flier Click here
A pre-conference training on motivational interviewing will be held on Wednesday, August 13. The calls for presentations, posters and exhibits are expected to be issued in early Fall 2007.
Stay tuned to the Midwest Conference Web site Click Here for more information as it becomes available.
Federal legislation is being proposed for a second time to help secure funding for prevention, research and treatment of problem gambling to state non-profit organizations.
A House bill, which will provide more than $71 million during a five-year period for problem gambling programs, is expected to be introduced in mid-February by Democratic Rep. Marty Meehan of Massachusetts. This is the second time Meehan has introduced the bill, known this year as the Comprehensive Awareness of Problem Gambling Act of 2007.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is strongly supporting this bill and is seeking local support from each state, according to Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council.
Members of Congress are responsive to individuals in their district and state, so this will be a real test of our ability, as the national grassroots advocates for problem gamblers and their families, to communicate a strong and positive message,” Whyte said.
According to Whyte, if passed, the federal bill will provide $14.2 million in grants per year to non-profit and state agencies for the prevention, research and treatment of problem gambling. The bill does not expand, restrict or tax state gambling operations, but will provide support at the state level to help problem gamblers and their families.
For more information about the proposed bill, visit the National Council Web site at: www.ncpgambling.org.
"Hope for You and Yours" is the slogan for the newest problem gambling awareness campaign available from the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling. The new campaign features brochures and three different sizes of posters.
The campaign brings awareness back to the Missouri help line, according to Gary Gonder, director of communications for the Missouri Lottery and vice chairperson of the Alliance.
"Our first campaign, 'Numbers,' put the emphasis on our help line," Gonder said. "We were just starting out and felt that our main focus should be to build awareness of the help line." "This new campaign puts the emphasis back on the help line number, but it also includes a positive message of hope," he continued.
Poster sizes available are:
-Mini posters - 8 ½ by 11 inches (these posters have two-way tape across the bottom and top);
-Large posters - 15 ½ by 23 inches; and
-X-large posters - 23 by 29 inches.
To order copies for your business, school or office, send your request to betsoff@molottery.com. The posters and brochures are free to Missouri residents and businesses.
The University of Missouri-Columbia’s Wellness Resource Center (WRC) recently awarded the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling with a Wellness Award. The award is presented to businesses, individuals and groups who assist the WRC in promoting positive, healthy messages and helping to make Columbia and Missouri a better place to live.
"This year, we have selected The Alliance as a Wellness Award Winner,” said Kim Dude, director of the WRC. “We so appreciate your individual support, as well as the support of the Alliance, in our work related to problem gambling. We selected you for this award because we are very grateful to have each of you as our partners in success.” The WRC also recognized the efforts of Alliance members Melissa Stephens, problem gambling programs administrator at the Missouri Gaming Commission, and Shelly Perez, responsible gaming program coordinator at the Missouri Lottery.