Abstract: Reports on the pre-post controlled experimental evaluation of a problem gambling prevention program aimed at school age youth. The program was very positively received by the students. We found a significant, but small improvement in the students’ understanding of random chance; however, we did not find any evidence for changes in gambling behaviour, coping strategies, or attitudes towards gambling.
Abstract: This paper reports on data relating to adolescent gambling, problem gambling and correlates of problem gambling. Participation was strongly tied to age, with only 39% of grade 5 students reporting gambling and over 80% of grade 11 reporting gambling. A large percentage of the gambling involvement was on noncommercial private bets such as card games, dice games, sports bets and games of skill. Interestingly most students rated gambling as less enjoyable than most other activities including reading. In general the students understood that gambling was mostly a matter of luck, however, the students had a very poor understanding of random chance. Problem gambling was negatively correlated with the effectiveness of coping skills and the student’s understanding of random chance. We also found an interaction between coping skills and knowledge, suggesting that the combination of poor coping skills and a poor understanding of random chance are particularly important in understanding adolescent problem gambling.
Abstract: This article examines the depiction of gambling in recent films. Often gambling is
portrayed either very positively or very negatively. The authors found eight overlapping
themes represented in these movies: (1) pathological gambling, (2) the magical skill of the professional gambler, (3) miraculous wins as happy endings, (4) gamblers are suckers, (5) gamblers cheat, (6) gambling is run by organized crime, (7) the casino heist, and (8) gambling as a symbolic backdrop to the story. These themes suggest that the portrayal of gambling in movies has a number of interesting distortions. The discussion centres on how these distortions have an impact on efforts to accurately disseminate information about gambling to the general public.
Abstract: Adolescent gambling is a major social problem in North America. Over the years this problem has given rise to a number of theoretical explanations. This paper argues that the existing explanations of youth gambling underestimate the influence of broader structural forces conducive to youth gambling problem and, instead, provide micro analyses that often blames individuals for their gambling problems. As such, these theories produce incomplete pictures of a persistent, cohesive and growing problem. Canadian youth’s gambling problem is said to be better understood within the nexus of: (1) the Canadian state’s pro-gambling policies due to the need for revenues, (2) the discrepancy between widely shared Canadian cultural values-wealth, power, and success-and legitimate means of achieving them, and (3) the capitalist processes of profit making and commodification.
Abstract: Migration has become a common trend and an expected fact of life among the majority of underdeveloped and developing nations. Immigration exposes newcomers to a new experience, an acculturation. Acculturation is not always a successful process and may become stressful. Acculturative stress can manifest itself in different ways. Many researchers have suggested a connection between immigration and increased risk of developing mental health/addiction problems. Studies have shown that ethnocultural/racial groups have experienced difficulties in gaining access to mental health and addiction care services. This background paper is prepared to 1) discuss the mental health & addiction state of Ethnocultural/racial communities, and 2) offer working recommendations.
Abstract: Purpose: This study was designed to examine the relation between acculturation process and faulty coping in the form of drug use among newly arrived Iranian youth. Method: A correlational research method was used for the purpose of this project. Result: According to the results, a negative correlation was found between a subject's acculturation success and drug use as a maladaptive coping. Conclusion: Those who have difficulty in integrating with the host culture are more likely to resort to faulty coping mechanism and more likely to suffer from adjustment difficulty.
Abstract: To obtain preliminary information on gambling, problem gambling, and help-seeking behaviors this study was performed. for this purpose, Iranian-Canadian community members and helping professionals in the Toronto area were interviewed through focus groups and personal interviews.
The study resulted that gambling is considered to be common and perceived as a social pastime among members of the Iranian community in Toronto. It was concluded that problem gambling is stigmatized, thus its significance is underestimated in the community. Lack of resources and language barriers are among factors influencing this community's help-seeking perception and practice towards problem gambling
