HealthTeacher

Gambling Addiction Risk Assessment for Students

1. Do think about gambling more now than you did in the past?
2. Do you gamble more often than you once did?
3. Do you spend more money gambling than you once did?
4. Do you know how much money you have spent on gambling?
5. If you lose money gambling, do you quickly try to win back your losses?
6. Do you gamble to help you escape other problems for a while?
7. Have you tried to cut back on the amount of time or money you spend gambling?
8. If you've tried to cut back, do you feel irritable or restless about doing so?
9. Have you borrowed or stolen money to use for future gambling or to cover your gambling losses?
10. Have you lied to others or to yourself about how much time or money you spend gambling?
11. Has anyone confronted you about how much time or money you spend gambling?
12. Has gambling interfered with your school attendance or grades?
13. Has gambling interfered with or changed any relationships at home or at school?
14. Is anyone in your family a problem gambler?

You responded "yes" to the following:

1. Do think about gambling more now than you did in the past?

What you should know. People who have a problem gambling often find that they are preoccupied with gambling: they think about it often, remembering wins or losses and planning the next time to gamble. It becomes more and more important in their lives while other activities and relationships that once were important become less important. This is a risk factor for any addictive behavior.

2. Do you gamble more often than you once did?

What you should know. People who have a problem gambling often find that they spend more and more time gambling, or wanting to gamble. It becomes more and more important in their lives while other activities and relationships that once were important become less important. This is a risk factor for any addictive behavior.

3. Do you spend more money gambling than you once did?

What you should know. People who have a problem gambling often find that they spend more and more money gambling. It becomes more and more important in their lives while other activities and relationships that once were important become less important. This is a risk factor for any addictive behavior.

4. Do you know how much money you have spent on gambling?

What you should know. Calculate the amount of money you have spent in the past year on gambling. You may be surprised at how quickly your spending adds up. Calculate also the number of times you have "won" and the number of times you have lost. You will probably find that over all, you have not won any significant amount. Problem gamblers spend 4 -12 times as much on gambling each month as do non-problem gamblers.

5. If you lose money gambling, do you quickly try to win back your losses?

What you should know. Calculate the amount of money you have lost in the past year on gambling. You may be surprised at the amount. Gambling costs are high and the effects on society are also costly. The aggregate costs have been estimated at a minimum $5 billion per year in the U.S.

6. Do you gamble to help you escape other problems for a while?

What you should know. Many people use gambling as an escape from a bad mood, a bad day. The "high" they experience when they have a "win" can help cover the blues. However, it can also become an excuse from dealing with life's real problem and may eventually add to the problems of life.

7. Have you tried to cut back on the amount of time or money you spend gambling?

What you should know. Gambling can be addictive. If it is difficult for you to stop or cut back, then you should consider how much hold it has on your life.

8. If you've tried to cut back, do you feel irritable or restless about doing so?

What you should know. Gambling can be addictive. If it is difficult for you to stop or cut back, then you should consider how much hold it has on your life. Irritability and restlessness when you are not gambling are two signs that your gambling has crossed a line and that it has an emotional / behavioral hold on you.

9. Have you borrowed or stolen money to use for future gambling or to cover your gambling losses?

What you should know. If you are stealing because of your gambling, then it is having a significant negative influence on your life. Your gambling has crossed a line that can put your relationships, even your freedom, at risk.

10. Have you lied to others or to yourself about how much time or money you spend gambling?

What you should know. If you are lying because of your gambling, then it is having a significant negative influence on your life. Your gambling has crossed a line that can put your relationships at risk.

11. Has anyone confronted you about how much time or money you spend gambling?

What you should know. If others, such as family or friends, who are involved in your life have talked with you about how much time or money you spend gambling, this also is a strong indicator that you have given gambling a greater position of value in your life than it warrants.

12. Has gambling interfered with your school attendance or grades?

What you should know. If you have missed school to gamble or if gambling has interfered with your grades, then this is a strong indicator that you have given gambling a greater position of value in your life than it warrants. You are gambling with not just your money, but with your future.

13. Has gambling interfered with or changed any relationships at home or at school?

What you should know. Children of problem gamblers are more likely to have a problem with gambling themselves.

General Note:

Any "yes" answers should cause you to focus on the role of gambling in your life and consider your risks for developing a gambling problem. Adolescent prevalence rates of pathological gamblers are two to four times that of adults. If you have answered "yes" to several questions, then you already have a problem gambling and should seek help from family, school counselors, family physicians.

Online Resources:
Gamblers Anonymous
NASPL Problem Gambling Bibliography
The Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders
Recovery Resources on Line
The Wager - On Line Gambling Education Report
Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues
National Center for Responsible Gaming
National Council on Problem Gambling
Gambling Problems Resource Center