Gambling addiction can start from a young age. See how you can help educate young people and prevent teen and young adult problem gambling.
What is prevention?
The prevention world changed with the 1994 Institute of Medicine’s report that clearly separated prevention from treatment. The focus moved to universal, selective, and indicated populations. This goes from individuals living with no problems (universal), to those living with risk factors (selective), and to those experiencing symptoms (indicated). However, that individual is not able to be diagnosed because they do not meet the full criteria. Identifying habits and when those habits become problematic and applying the correct interventions to prevent the condition is key.
Preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) disorders among youth is truly a paradigm shift that needs to be upheld in mental health research, schools, primary care medical systems, community-based organizations, child welfare and criminal justice systems. The 1994 Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report emphasized the need for clear definitions to guide the field. Another report released in 2009 by the IOM emphasized the need for funding for national research and an understanding that the future of mental health of the nation depends on how poverty is collectively dealt with. The costs of mental, emotional, and behavior disorders (MEB) in youth were estimated to be $247 billion in 2007, as indicated in the 2009 report. The report also indicated that MEB disorders also interfere with young people and their ability to accomplish normal development tasks, establishing healthy interpersonal relationships, succeeding in school, and transition to the workforce.
What is mental health promotion?
Mental Health promotion has been seen as separate from prevention, but it is closely related to changing influences on the development of youth. Mental health promotion includes efforts to enhance individuals’ ability to achieve developmentally appropriate tasks, a positive sense of self-esteem, and social inclusion and to strengthen their ability to cope with adversity. Mental health promotion takes a strengths-based approach to increase the ability of someone to manage frustration, stress, and strengthen resilience and coping strategies. Inclusion of these types of interventions in prevention and treatment is a shift. Preventative intervention studies demonstrate that many prevention programs already involve the promotion of child competencies or the healthy functioning of families, schools, or communities. This evolution needs to continue with a broader understanding of why MEB health promotion and prevention should be intertwined.
What is prevention science?
- Focusing on the development of evidence-based strategies that reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
- A diverse group of individuals and disciplines to come together to reduce the impact of the social determinants of health and promote health equity.
- A window of opportunity, lasting two to four years between the first symptom and the disorder. This means the age of onset of certain disorders is important to understand to provide interventions.
- Understanding that developmental competencies established early in life provide a framework for future competencies. Developmental tasks or expectations for behaviors are also important in understanding the competencies needed at different stages and ages of life.
Why focus on youth problem gambling prevention?
Around the globe, trends have shown that the number of youth gambling and reported problematic behaviors have increased since the 1980’s. This increase is due to increased availability and access of both illegal and legal gambling, increased social acceptability, and a continued lack of awareness that gambling problems can impact adolescents. Families and adults gamble with children with little to no awareness of the risks associated with gambling. It is glamorized in the media and is becoming deeply embedded within cultures and societies. It is a social norm. However, many do not even question if it is a healthy social norm for youth to embrace. International research indicates that 60- 80 percent of youth have gambled. A recent longitudinal study indicated that gambling onset occurs between the ages of 13 and 14. Youth report that they gamble for money, excitement, entertainment, and financial freedom. The myth of flexible attributions, attributing skill to wins and bad luck to losses, plays a role in the adolescent belief system that gambling is a good way to make money. This cognitive distortion and adolescents who have difficulty managing and controlling negative emotions contribute to problematic gambling behaviors among youth.
Global research indicates:
- 3 to 8 percent of adolescents have a serious gambling problem
- Another 8 to 15 percent are at risk.
- 1.1 million youth ages 12-17 are living with severe gambling disorder.
- 5 million youth are experiencing serious gambling related problems.
Those adolescents living with problem gambling may also be experiencing:
- Living with someone with mental health issues, a drinking problem or who has been incarcerated
- Increased domestic violence and abuse
- Increased suicide attempts
- Anxiety and Depression
- Parental problems
- Learning problems
- Difficult peer relationships
- Drug and alcohol use
- Problematic video game play
- Other mental health disorders