1 Societal Attitudes to Gambling Problems

2 What I am interested in How does the general public view the nature of gambling problems? Do people believe that treatment is necessary in order to fix gambling problems? Do people believe that a problem gambler needs to stop gambling in order to fix their problem?

3 Methods Questions were added to the beginning of a general population survey exploring barriers to treatment for gambling problems (N = 8,467). Non-gamblers were compared to social gamblers and problem gamblers on these questions. Conceptions of gambling problems were related to beliefs about need for treatment and abstinence.

4 Questions asked Problem gambling best seen as a form of: Disease or illness Wrongdoing Habit (not disease) Addiction similar to drug addiction Response options for each conception ranged from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

5 Questions asked Do you think it is possible for people who have gambling problems to fix it on their own, without getting any treatment? Do you think it is possible for people who have gambling problems to reduce their gambling to that of a social gambler or do they need to quit all together?

6 Results – all respondents % Strongly agreed that problem gambling best seen as a form of: 38% Disease or illness 16% Wrongdoing 32% Habit (not disease) 56% Addiction similar to drug addiction

7 Results – all respondents 53% agreed treatment was needed in order to fix a gambling problem. 71% agreed a person needs to quit gambling altogether in order to solve a gambling problem.

8 Comparing gamblers and non- gamblers

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10 Comparing gambler groups

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12 Assumptions Societal attitudes reflect how people behave towards problem gamblers. Societal attitudes can be altered. If societal attitudes are changed then problem gamblers will have more success in dealing with their problem. We know how to change societal attitudes. We know how we want to improve conditions for problem gamblers.