Psychiatr Serv 59:1343-1346, November 2008
doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.59.11.1343
© 2008 American Psychiatric Association
Treatment Seeking Among Ontario Problem Gamblers: Results of a Population Survey
Helen Suurvali, B.A.,
David Hodgins, Ph.D.,
Tony Toneatto, Ph.D. and
John Cunningham, Ph.D.
Ms. Suurvali and Dr. Cunningham are affiliated with Social, Prevention, and Health Policy Research and Dr. Toneatto is with the Clinical Research Department at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1 (e-mail: helensuurvali{at}camh.net). Dr. Hodgins is with the Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined help seeking for gambling concerns among people with different levels of gambling problems. METHODS: Ontario adults who had gambled more than $100 (N=4,217) and who screened positive for a possible gambling problem (N=1,205) were classified according to gambling problem severity and asked about their experiences with gambling treatment. RESULTS: Only 6% of gamblers had ever accessed a service, including a self-help group or self-help materials. With self-help materials excluded, only 3% of gamblers (from 1% of those who met only the initial CLiP screening criteria to 53% of those with pathological gambling) had sought treatment for gambling. CONCLUSIONS: Few gamblers sought treatment for gambling problems; greater problem severity was associated with greater likelihood of using treatment, with self-help materials used most often. Further research is needed on why treatment seeking is low and on the effectiveness of self-help resources in reaching gamblers with problems in earlier stages.
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