|
|
 |
Mission: To reduce the negative effects of gambling in Lane
County communities through coordinating effective prevention strategies.
The need for problem gambling prevention exists in part because
problem gambling is one of the fastest growing addictive behaviors in
the United States. Lane County has greater than an estimated 6,000 adult problem
gamblers and 1,500 teen problem gamblers. We'd like to reduce
current and
future rates of problem gambling by providing effect prevention and outreach efforts. Just
as prevention efforts for drugs, alcohol and tobacco are important,
effective problem gambling prevention strategies may actually help
reduce the rate of future problem and pathological gamblers by promoting
healthy and responsible choices.
Lane County formed its problem gambling prevention program in January
2002 (the program's name has been since gone by the motto 'Know the
Rules of the Game' since March 2006). Our program, like other
problem gambling services in the state, is funded by a portion of 1% of
Oregon Lottery net proceeds. Our program utilizes the Center for
Substance Abuse Prevention's (CSAP) strategies for effective prevention
efforts, including information dissemination, community-based processes,
and policy change.
A growing number of prevention experts believe that the
risk and
protective
factors for other problem behaviors (e.g., substance abuse, violence,
delinquency, school dropout) are common to those for problem gambling
behaviors in youth. We very much support this belief. Therefore,
our program seeks to model its efforts around addressing common risk
factors.
Our program is targeting the following
risk factors in youth:
- Early initiation of problem behavior
- Community laws & norms favorable toward the problem behavior
- Favorable attitudes toward the problem behavior
- Friends who engage in the problem behavior
For more information on how problem gambling may be related to the
risk & protective factor framework and how evidence-based problem
gambling prevention programs might be developed, please refer to the
report,
"Problem Gambling Prevention Resource Guide for Prevention
Professionals."
[back to top]
- Increase community awareness about the effects of problem
gambling, and promote awareness that problem gambling is a
preventable and treatable public health problem
- Reduce gambling behavior among youth by addressing the risk
factors that may increase the risk of problem gambling and promoting
the protective factors that may minimize the risk of problem
gambling.
- Build and maintain partnerships of individuals, agencies, and
community groups to help support community approach to problem
gambling prevention.
Lane County is working to achieve these goals through several
projects, including the development and provision of school-based and
community awareness presentations, partnering with other local substance
abuse prevention coordinators and other counties' problem gambling
prevention providers, and active involvement in local and statewide
efforts for Oregon Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
For more information, see our
implementation plan
for 2007-08. For other information about our efforts, check out
our presentation
 about
problem gambling and the importance of prevention.
[back to top]
- Awareness presentations to anyone interested (past presentations
include community groups and coalitions, parent groups, addictions
treatment clients, etc.)
- Prevention/awareness classes (interactive PowerPoint
presentations for middle schoolers and at-risk youth)
- Professional training workshops (e.g., to addictions,
prevention, or mental health providers) Educational materials; we
can develop materials to suit your target group
- Any other gambling-related information or education; please feel
free to contact us!
Note: Our program does not provide treatment services. Gambling
treatment services are available in Lane County through the
award-winning
emergence
Gambling Treatment Program. Call 541.741.7107 for free and confidential
help.
[back to top] |
