Gambling A Problem Among Middle & High School Students: Study
Posted November 16, 2010 2:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Canadian World Series of Poker Champion Jonathan Duhamel cautioned kids not to quit school to pursue professional gambling after he won the near $9 million title last week and a study released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) ads weight to his warning.
The study, released Tuesday, suggests some 29,000 Ontario kids in Grades 7 to 12 reported behaviours associated with problem gambling. Most reported betting on cards and playing the lottery. Only a few said they bet online or go to casinos.
Researchers studied self-report data from 9,000 students across the province to monitor trends and areas for concern when it comes to gambling.
The report states two thirds of these young people also have alcohol and substance abuse problems. A quarter of those questioned said they attempted suicide in the last year.
“Nearly half of Ontario students report participating in at least one form of gambling, and almost 3% scored 2 or more on a validated screening instrument, indicating that they have a gambling problem. This represents about 29,000 students in Ontario,” Dr. Robert Mann, Senior Scientist in CAMH’s Social and Epidemiological Research Department and Principal Investigator on the study, said.
“We also found that students who reported problem gambling indicators also reported high rates of elevated psychological distress and other potentially dangerous behaviours.”
Kids who partake in gambling are 11 times more likely to be involved in gang fights, carrying a gun and selling drugs. They’re also more likely to experience depressive symptoms and have low self-esteem, the report states.
CAMH has developed a program to help young people recognize the signs of a gambling problem. Click here for more information.
