Title: Issue 6, February 2002
Volume: 6
Author: Editorial Team
File: Editorial
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.5

Letters

Title: Response to a letter about “Chips, Chatter and Friends”
Volume: 6
Author: Barry Fritz
File: Barry-Fritz
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.6

Research

Title: Characteristics of People Seeking Help from Specialized Programs for the Treatment of Problem Gambling in Ontario
Volume: 6
Author: Brian Rush, Raquel Shaw Moxam, Karen A Urbanoski
Abstract:
Objectives: The objectives of this study are to estimate the number of people seeking treatment on an annual basis in Ontario at specialized problem gambling treatment programs and describe important characteristics of clients.
Method: Agency staff prospectively collected four broad information categories from clients: demographics, gambling activities, problem severity and services received, and submitted the data to a central database.
Sample: The report includes submissions (total caseload equals 2224) from 44 designated problem gambling programs between January 1, 1998 and April 30, 2000.
Results: Of the 2224 clients in treatment, 1625 (73.5%) were seeking help for their own gambling problem, and 504 (22.8%) were seeking help in dealing with a family member/significant other’s gambling problem. The overall gender ratio of cases in treatment was about 1.4:1 (58.3% to 41.7%) males to females. A wide range of gambling activities was reported as problematic.
Conclusion: Only a small percentage of people experiencing problems related to gambling are seeking help from specialized treatment programs. Population survey data are needed in Ontario to assess the potential over- or under- representation of particular sub-groups in treatment compared to the epidemiology of problem gambling in the community.
File: Brian-Rush-Raquel-Shaw-Moxam-Karen-A.-Urbanoski
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.9

Book Review

Title: The Gambler
Volume: 6
Author: Christine Mckay
File: Christine-McKay
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.10

Service Profile

Title: The Problem Gambling Program at COSTI Family and Mental Health Services
Volume: 6
Author: Editorial Team
File: COSTI-Immigrant-Services
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.8

First-Person Account

Title: Excerpts from Losing Mariposa: A Memoir of a Compulsive Gambler
Volume: 6
Author: Doug Little
File: Doug-Little
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.3
Title: Internet Gambling
Volume: 6
Author: Nigel Turner
File: Nigel-Turner
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.2

Feature

Title: Treating the Person with a Gambling Problem
Volume: 6
Authors: Insoo Kim Berg & John R. Briggs
Abstract: This short article presents compelling reasons for the treatment of problematic gambling from a solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) perspective. It reviews a set of techniques designed for use by practitioners and clients who face this problem and its serious emotional, social and financial consequences. Although SFBT has theoretical and philosophical foundations, the focus of this article is the “how-to” aspect of importance to both clinicians and clients. SFBT lends itself well to self- help models and group therapy settings, since clients can benefit from asking similar questions of themselves or of one another in group settings.
File: Insoo-Kim-Berg-John-R.-Briggs
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.1

Opinion

Title: Slot Machine Gamblers- Why Are They So Hard to Study?
Volume: 6
Authors: Jonathan Parke & Mark Griffiths
File: Jonathan-Parke-Mark-Griffiths
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.6.7