2005 NCRG Conference Provides Forum on Research, Industry and Policy Issues
With the worldwide expansion of legalized gambling has come increased interest in understanding the potential health risks of gambling among treatment providers, researchers, regulators, public policy makers and various sectors of the gaming industry. The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) and the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders have responded by offering the sixth annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction as a forum for members of these groups to address gambling as a public health issue and consider how they can reduce or eliminate the potential harms of gambling through more effective responsible gaming practices, screening and treatment, regulations and public health policy.
To encourage interaction among the diverse attendees expected, the conference offers plenary sessions on the broader issues raised by viewing gambling as a public health issue. The opening session introduces the innovative framework for addressing disordered gambling that inspired this year's theme, Finding Common Ground on Prevention, Treatment and Policy. A spirited debate on harm reduction, viewed from both clinical and research perspectives, will follow, with George McGovern, former U.S. ambassador, senator and presidential candidate, then delivering the keynote address, "Freedom of Choice and Addiction" (see related article on page 5).
In addition, the conference once again features two program tracks to address the distinct concerns of the scientific and clinical communities and the government and industry sectors. The Scientific and Clinical track is co-sponsored by the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders. Led by distinguished addictions researchers and clinicians, this track will present new research findings on a variety of topics including new empirical evidence for the value of self-help groups and recent research from a multi-site study of drug treatment for disordered gamblers. With growing evidence of a common, underlying syndrome for all addictions, the sessions also will put pathological gambling within the context of related addictive and psychiatric disorders.
Using a practical, "nuts and bolts" approach, the Government and Industry track will include a discussion of myths about gambling disorders that prevent the development of effective programs, as well as provide concrete examples of how research can inform responsible gaming initiatives. The track also will feature sessions on the theory that gaming machines can be reconfigured to protect gamblers from excessive play and the potential for collaboration among the disparate stakeholders concerned with gambling using examples from responsible drinking initiatives.
The NCRG conference will take place December 7-8, 2005, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. A full conference program, as well as registration information, is available at www.ncrg.org/events.
