Project Director: Heather M. Gray, Ph.D. & Debi A. LaPlante, Ph.D.
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Problem Gambling Services via Health Resources in Action
Timeline: 2025 – 2026
2025-6:
In addition to its ongoing training and capacity building efforts, the Division, in collaboration with Health Resources in Action, will develop two enduring resources, (1) Your Second Step to Change: An evidence-based self-assessment and brief intervention workbook to be designed for individuals who have made an initial step toward changing their gambling behavior and could benefit from strategies to help them solidify and maintain those positive changes and take additional steps and (2) Taking Steps for Self-care – A Resource for Affected Others: An evidence-based resource to be designed for individuals who are impacted by others’ gambling-related problems, providing important information about protecting one’s self and engaging in self-care. Additionally, we will develop and deliver an evidence-based, tailored education program for court professionals in MA.
2025-6:
Self-harm is an all-too-common comorbidity of problem gambling; according to one recent meta-analysis, it increases the risk for suicide ideation and suicide attempts even after adjusting for risk caused by other co-occurring conditions such as depression and anxiety. However, less is known about the potential mechanisms linking problem gambling with self-harm and whether these risk factors are modifiable. To address this research gap, and through a continued subcontract from the MA Gambling Helpline, the Division on Addiction will test the applicability of Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide to problem gambling using a sample of MA Gambling Helpline callers. Data collection is scheduled to begin in late June, 2025. The Division on Addiction’s FY 26 (partial) activities will include continued recruitment of participants into the study, data collection/monitoring, and awarding of gift card incentives.
2026:
The Expanded Gaming Act includes a provision allowing individuals to petition a district court for an order excluding immediate family members from gaming establishments. District courts are given legislative responsibility for investigating and issuing exclusion orders. To provide education about relevant issues, the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, via a subcontract from Health Resources in Action, will continue its work, launched in FY25, to prepare a tailored curriculum for court personnel. The curriculum will include key concepts such as the nature and prevalence of problem gambling/Gambling Disorder and pathways to recovery. We anticipate that the curriculum will comprise two 1-hour sessions.