Thursday, February 22, 2007

A university study about people who want to overcome gambling problems is
seeking volunteers from rural Nevada. The study is being conducted by the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, International Gaming Institute along with
Harvard Medical School. Professor Bo Bernhard said he is seeking volunteers
willing to participate in three 15-minute phone interviews about their
gambling. Bernhard is the director of gambling research and the chief
investigator for the study.
He is seeking 60 volunteers from areas of the state that are typically
overlooked in studies. "We want to hit as many corners of the state as
possible," he said. "But it is much more difficult than in Las Vegas or Reno
where we could just put a flier up and have plenty of volunteers. We are
figuring out ways to reach out to populations that often slip through the
cracks." The gamblers the study is seeking are those who realize their
behavior may be causing problems, but not necessarily those who are out of
control. "We're not necessarily looking for people who are pathological," he
said. "We're looking for people who want to overcome their own problems, but
who aren't necessarily going into treatment for it. In a lot of
jurisdictions, self-help or interventions help people overcome gambling
problems. A good percentage of the rural population lives in places where
there aren't large-scale treatment centers to help people out." Bernhard
said the study is designed so people can participate from home at their
convenience. "All the information we gather is completely confidential," he
said. "Volunteers can refuse to participate or answer any questions." With
good participation, Bernhard thinks the study can say something about life
in rural Nevada. Study participants who qualify will earn $100 for their
participation. A law passed by the Nevada Legislature in 2005 raises money
to study problem gambling. The bill is up for renewal in the 2007 session.
"These funds have already provided a strong foundation in our efforts to
help the state's problem gamblers," Bernhard said. "We look forward to
continuing research that will help us understand the complexities of this
disorder."