THE MASS COUNCIL WELCOMES GUILLAUME PAGNIER

Data and Research Director, Phil Kopel, poses for a picture with Research Intern, Guillaume Pagnier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi! My name is Guillaume Pagnier, one of the new summer interns. I recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in Neurobiology. My plan is to go to medical school in the next couple of years.

My senior thesis analyzed the relationship between stress and gambling and I hope to be able to follow up on this here in Boston. I’ll be working primarily on an educational program which highlights the different effects that gambling has on the brain in an effort to raise awareness about what is really happening at a physiological level.

I’m excited to start working and developing basic, easy-to-access information for the public to raise a better understanding of what is really happening in the brain when you gamble!

Problem Gambling Research Luncheons

by Phil Kopel, Data and Reseach Manager, The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling

The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling is hosting two "Brown Bag" Research Luncheons in June. Both "BYOL" (bring your own lunch) luncheons will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees will be able to eat their lunches while networking with peers. The presentations will be from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by a questions & answers session. Dessert will provided by the Mass Council! 

The Mass Council's Data and Research Manager, Phil Kopel, took some time this week to give us some insight on what's to be expected at the luncheons.

 
I am excited that on June 5th, clinicians, researchers and other professionals working in the field of problem gambling in the western part of the State, will have the opportunity to hear Dr. Geoffrey Locke, PhD speak about Interpersonal Guilt and Pathological Gambling Among College Students.  Dr. Locke is an engaging speaker and you can expect to walk away with a better understanding of how college students become pathological gamblers. Discussion will take us through the college years and the affect gambling has on the student, as they try to deal with difficult issues.

For those clinicians, researchers and other professionals working in the field of problem gambling in the eastern part of the State, on Tuesday, June 11th you will have an opportunity to hear Dr. Natasha Schull, PhD speak about her 15 years of research in Las Vegas. Her book, Addiction by Design, which was released this past October, kept me turning pages. She opened my eyes through every chapter as she connected the dots between perspectives of pathological gamblers with that of the gambling industry.  She provides candid information gleaned from those working in casinos, their vendors and game designers that paints a fascinating picture about the gambling industry.  You will walk away from this presentation with a new found perspective. 

Substance Abuse Disorders & Problem Gambling

By Sasha C. Russell, M.A., Program Specialist, Communications, The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling





Many pathological gamblers often simultaneously suffer with a serious mental health disorder or substance use disorder.  When this happens it is called a co-occurring disorder, formerly known as dual diagnosis. The most common co-occurring disorders in conjunction with gambling disorders are: substance use disorders, mood disorders (depression and bipolar), anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.

Though it can be debatable which disorder causes the other disorder, there are many reasons why gambling and substance use are prevalent together. According to the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling’s Gambling Disorders & Substance Use Disorders Fact Sheet, “for some who gamble, a dependency on the ‘action’ of gambling takes place in a similar way to a dependency on the effects of alcohol or other drugs.” A 2008 study has shown that about 75% of all pathological gamblers have had problems with alcohol, while 38% of all pathological gamblers have had problems with other drugs.

In the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment report Substance Abuse Treatment For Persons With Co-Occurring Disorders (Problem Gambling p. 243) the following are suggested reasons co-occurrence may develop:

·         Cocaine use and problem gambling may coexist as part of a broader antisocial lifestyle.

·         Someone who is addicted to cocaine may see gambling as a way of getting money to support drug use.

·         A pathological gambler may use cocaine to maintain energy levels and focus during gambling and sell drugs to obtain gambling money.

·         Cocaine may artificially inflate a gambler’s sense of certainty of winning and gambling skill, contributing to taking greater gambling risks.

·         The gambler may use drugs or alcohol as a way of celebrating a win or relieving depression.

·         One of the more common patterns that has been seen clinically is that of a sequential addiction. A frequent pattern is that someone who has had a history of alcohol dependence—often with many years of recovery and AA attendance—develops a gambling problem.

When treating a co-occurring disorder, the clinician must recognize that “treatment success is enhanced by maintaining integrated treatment relationships providing disease management interventions for both disorders continuously across multiple treatment episodes, balancing case management support with detachment and expectation at each point in time” (2006 Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse presentation). What this breaks down to is that basically, if someone is a gambler and abuses alcohol, both problems need to be treated separately for what they are. Triggers for each disorder need to be defined and treatment must be aware of multiple disorders all at once, treating them separately, yet together.

The Addiction Blog points out that in many cases when people are being treated for a disorder, gambling tends to go unnoticed. More and more awareness is being raised about problem and pathological gambling and its relationship to other mental health disorders. As mentioned above, it’s not always easy to pinpoint the start of one disorder over another, or which disorder led to the other, or even why some disorders stay mild, while others are severe. The important thing is continuing to promote protective factors (prevention blog post) in our communities and being able to recognize risk factors.

“2013 Massachusetts Conference on Gambling Problems: Working Together to Create New Pathways for Success”

On Friday, April 26^th, 2013, the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling hosted the “2013 Massachusetts Conference on Gambling Problems” at Endicott College’s Wylie Inn and Conference Center. More than 110 people gathered to discuss the state of problem gambling in the Commonwealth.

Attendees were welcomed to the North Shore by State Representative John Keenan (D-Salem), followed by the Mass Council Executive Director, Marlene Warner, and Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Lydie Ultimo.  

Next, Commissioner Enrique Zuniga of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and Rachel Volberg, Ph.D, of Gemini Research delivered an impressive keynote address, setting the tone of camaraderie for long journey ahead in light of gambling expansion and the Commonwealth’s commitment to problem gambling services. Commissioner Enrique Zuniga stated, “As a critical component of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s evaluation criteria, gaming applicants will be required to strategically and methodically address concerns related to problem gambling. Ensuring responsible gambling is a top priority for the Commission and we greatly value our ongoing partnership with MCCG.”   (Introducing the Successful and Ethical Development of Expanded Gaming to the Commonwealth).

The keynote address was followed by the presentation of The Thomas N. Cummings Leadership Award, which was awarded to Dot Duda, M Ed, LMHC, LMFT, LADCI, MAPGS, Director of Outpatient Psychiatry & PARC at Mount Auburn Hospital, for her vision, courage, and dedication in the field of problem gambling, and presented by Former Executive Director and previous recipient of the Award, Kathleen M. Scanlan.

The award was named after Thomas N. Cummings who founded the Mass Council on Compulsive Gambling in 1983. Tom had a vision to help those struggling with problem gambling, as he struggled himself. He had the courage to stand up and fight on behalf of compulsive gamblers in New England, during a time when the issue had almost no recognition. And until the day he passed away in 1998, Tom was dedicated to the cause.

According to Mass. Council Intervention and Treatment Director, Victor Ortiz, “Dot has always demonstrated great clinical commitment, passion, and support to problem gambling services.  We wish that every clinician was like her.  She is committed to training all of her staff to become Massachusetts Problem Gambling Specialists (MAPGS), and problem gambling is part of every curriculum that she develops. This is all due to Dot’s outstanding leadership.” 

After receiving the award, Dot expressed that she was surprised and nearly overwhelmed. She stated, “It was such an honor. I also have to say, I have such great appreciation for the Mass Council and am thrilled to be a part of it. I will always remember this day.” Dot continued to discuss the importance of capacity building and her hopes that the Commonwealth will have more people trained and comfortable to treat problem gamblers well before the casinos are built. 

Following the Thomas N. Cummings Leadership Award, four plaques were given out to industry members in recognition of their joining The Massachusetts Partnership for Responsible Gambling (MPRG), an alliance of gambling industry leaders, regulators, and problem gambling experts committed to responsible gambling practices, including Mohegan Sun Massachusetts, the Massachusetts State Lottery, Plainridge Racecourse, Caesar's Resort at Suffolk Downs, and the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.

“The MPRG members are leaders in industry efforts to reduce the social, emotional and financial impact of problem gambling in Massachusetts. Their collective work will allow the 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth to equip and prepare themselves with the proper data and tools to prevent, intervene and treat gambling disorders. In addition, this group has committed education and time to best train their gaming employees to understand, recognize and refer their customers that are in need of help to the proper resources,” explained the Mass Council’s Executive Director, Marlene Warner.

After the presentations, conference attendees went to workshop sessions based on exploring ideas about collective responsibilities regarding the future of Treatment, Prevention and Advocacy for problem gambling services in the Commonwealth, especially during the era of expanded gambling.

The morning session included the following workshops:

·    Building Treatment Capacity: The Holyoke Treatment Model and the New DSM-V Criteria (Building Treatment Capacity: The Holyoke Treatment Model and The New DSM-V Criteria)

·    Massachusetts Partnership on Responsible Gambling Group: Advocacy for Responsible Gambling (Responsible Gambling Across the Commonwealth)

·    Innovations in the Prevention of Problem Gambling: “Stacked Deck,” Regional Prevention Meetings, College Athletes (Innovations in the Prevention of Problem Gambling: Stacked Deck, Regional Prevention Meetings, Student Athletes)

The morning workshops broke for lunch, where Mass Council Consultant Jim Wuelfing highlighted the Council’s Wisdom Exchange Program. The Wisdom Exchange Program is a collection of stories about problem gambling – stories of strength, and triumph, stories that share experience, stories that remind us of what’s important and encourage us to persevere. Conference attendees were given the option of sharing their story on the spot to be used in the Council’s Wisdom Exchange Podcast that can be found on iTunes by searching Wisdom Exchange.

After the presentation, conference attendees headed to afternoon workshops:

·   Community Involvement in Supporting Recovery: Mental Health Peer Specialists, Recovery Centers and Recovery High Schools (Community Involvement in Supporting Recovery: Mental Health Peer Specialists, Recovery Community Organizations, Recovery Centers and Recovery High Schools)

·    Meeting the Challenges: Regional Collaborative Meetings (Meeting the Challenges: Regional Collaborative Meetings)

·    Gambling Expansion: New Opportunities in Advocacy (Gambling Expansion: New Opportunities in Advocacy)

It was a great day and Conference participants welcomed the engagement between themselves and the Mass Council on Compulsive Gambling. Discussions were lively, informative and at times emotional. They look forward to continuing open conversation and watching future developments regarding gambling expansion and problem gambling services in the Commonwealth.

Support for the Conference was generously provided by the following sponsors:  

·    The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services
·    AdCare Education Institute, Inc.
·    Mohegan Sun Massachusetts
·    The Massachusetts State Lottery
·    Caesar's Resort at Suffolk Downs
·    Plainridge Racecourse
·    Sara Beatrice Design
·    Printing Solutions, Inc.
·    Custom Benefits Group
·    Crown Trophy
·    Baystate Financial Services
·    Pro PC Service
·    BoldMoves Consulting
·    The Optical House

Check out more pictures from the conference here!