More Gambling Doesn't Mean More Problem Players...Addiction Expert

More gambling doesn't mean more problem players....addiction expert

A Harvard professor has a different view on gambling addiction

By Stephane Massinon - Halifax Daily News

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Increasing people's exposure to it, Howard Shaffer says, can increase immunity to addiction.

Shaffer, a leading expert in addiction research, presented the seemingly contradictory conclusion to the Nova Scotia Responsible Gambling Conference yesterday.

The event, at the World Trade and Convention Centre, is hosted by the Nova Scotia Gaming Corp.

By studying a state that has high exposure to gambling, Nevada, and comparing it with Iowa, Shaffer found an interesting result. People from Nevada are nine times more exposed to gambling than people in Iowa, but have less addiction than the U.S. national average.

"Exposure leads to an increase in the problem. Gradually, over time, people adapt and it doesn't matter how much exposure there is, " the psychologist explained afterwards.

"In the short run, reducing exposure improves things. In the long run, it actually reduces the development of immunity. For a dentist, doctor or nursery school teacher, they're all exposed to viruses a lot. Gradually, over their careers, they tend to get fewer viruses because they build immunity up."

On the flip side, Shaffer said, you don't want people to suffer before they build up their immunity. This is a delicate balance.

Outright bans on gambling take away its positive aspect: it's recreation for adults who have developed the capacity to play responsibly.

Public policy, he said, is generally geared toward quick fixes. And not enough is known about the nature of addiction.

"People seeking treatment will show up with multiple addictions," said Shaffer. They are often drug users, mentally unstable or have other addictive behaviours.

Public money would be better used if it were put towards solutions that deal with the entire spectrum of addiction, he said. Often, people are sent to a gambling-specific treatment course.