184528 Interplay between substance use and gambling behaviors among college undergraduates

Monday, October 27, 2008: 2:48 PM

Abby Kiklevich Carleton, MA , Clinical Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Nicholas C. Heck, BA , Department of Psychology, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Bryan N. Cochran, PhD , Dept. of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
     
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine temporal relationships between substance use, gambling activities, and personality characteristics.

Methods: A sample of 309 University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and 104 University of Montana (UM) students completed an online survey in 2006. Subjects completed measures assessing substances used and preferred while gambling, substances used and preferred while not gambling, gambling severity, betting behaviors, and personality characteristics.

Results: Initial results suggest differences in individuals' preferences for different types of drugs while gambling versus while not gambling. For example, nicotine was more preferred while gambling, whereas cannabis was more preferred while not gambling. Differences were also observed in gambling behaviors and personality characteristics for individuals who prefer different types of substances while gambling. For example, individuals who prefer to use nicotine while gambling estimate that they have lost more money in their lifetime, bet more in one sitting of play, and scored higher on scales of Novelty Seeking than individuals who do not prefer to use nicotine while gambling. Future analyses will continue to examine differences related to preferred substance use, gambling behavior, and personality characteristics, while examining qualitative data which seek to explain why individuals prefer certain substances while gambling and others while not gambling.

Conclusions: Differences in substance use preferences while gambling appear to be related to gambling behaviors and personality characteristics within this population. Understanding these differences could help in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, problematic gambling behaviors, or the co-occurrence of the two disorders.

Learning Objectives:
Recognize how an individual client's substance use and gambling behaviors may be effecting one another Describe why individuals may prefer certain drugs while gambling and other drugs while not gambling Apply the knowledge of this relationship to work in prevention and treatment of substance disorders and gambling disorders

Keywords: Drug Use Variation, Treatment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a student studying the information with a qualified PhD supervisor
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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