Week Raises Awareness of Problem Gambling
The Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators (APGSA) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) joined forces this spring to organize the first annual National Problem Gambling Awareness Week (NPGAW), aimed at increasing public awareness of problem gambling and educating health care providers about the issue and referral opportunities.
Participants in the event, held March 10-17, included a coalition of more than 50 government and state agencies, other health care providers, representatives from the gaming industry and nongaming organizations such as the United Way.
Central to the program was the development of a comprehensive NPGAW toolkit, featuring sample public awareness materials, local activity ideas and information materials on the issue of problem gambling. In addition, the groups developed a kit of problem gambling screening and referral tools, distributing it to professionals commonly accessed by problem gamblers, including physicians, behavioral health providers, attorneys and probation officers. APGSA and NCPG distributed the materials in all 50 states, encouraging local stakeholders to utilize the tool kits to educate their communities about problem gambling throughout the week.
According to Keith Whyte, executive director of NCPG, 25 states held some kind of event during NPGAW. The Oregon Department of Human Services coordinated one of the most comprehensive programs, including a governor's proclamation for the week, problem gambling services award ceremony, community television show on problem gambling, poster contest for middle school youth, op-ed pieces in local newspapers and more.
Feedback on the materials and program was extremely positive for the debut year of the program, Whyte said. He expects even wider levels of participation as the event gains momentum in future years.
