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An Evaluation of Substance Abuse, Mental Health Disorders, and Gambling Correlations: an Opportunity for Early Public Health Interventions

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Abstract

This study uniquely evaluates the prevalence of recreational gambling, and co-occurring conditions prior to gambling expansion in Massachusetts (MA), and assesses associations between gambling and co-occurring behavioral, and mental health disorders. Data are derived from the 2008 MA Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Logistic regression models to obtain multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for factors associated with gambling are performed. Prevalence of recreational gambling in MA is 40.2 % (95 % CI 38.2–42.1). Gamblers are more likely to be obese (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.0–1.7; p < 0.05), smoke heavily (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.1–4.6; p < 0.05), use alcohol (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.0–1.6; p < 0.05), and prescription drugs (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.1–1.6; p < 0.05). Gamblers are also more likely to self-report their health status as good compared to excellent (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.0–1.7; p < 0.05), and to have 14 or less days of poor mental health (OR 1.4; 95%CI 1.1–1.9; p < 0.01). Recreational gambling is significantly associated with obesity, alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, prescription drug use, and poor mental health. Early public health interventions before gambling expansion are of critical importance.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in Boston, MA. Authors thank Dr. Bruce Cohen, Director of Research, Dr. Thomas Land, Director of the Office of Statistics and Evaluation, Steve Keel, Director of Problem Gambling Services, and Maria McKenna at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for their support and guidance with MA BRFSS data management. Authors want to extend a special thank you to Amanda Houpt and Martha Zorn for their helpful suggestions to a preliminary draft of this paper.

Funding

Partial financial support was provided by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Conflict of Interest

Rachel Volberg and Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio are part of the Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) study team. The SEIGMA study is funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission did not participate in any aspects of the research process, drafting or editing of the manuscript. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this manuscript are entirely those of the authors, and do not represent the views of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Ethical Approval

This study used secondary de-identified data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 715 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Nene C. Okunna, Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio & Rachel A. Volberg

  2. The Institute for Global Health, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio

  3. VA National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, Bedford, MA, USA

    David A. Smelson

  4. VA Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford, MA, USA

    David A. Smelson

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    David A. Smelson

Authors
  1. Nene C. Okunna
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  2. Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio
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  3. David A. Smelson
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  4. Rachel A. Volberg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio.

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Okunna, N.C., Rodriguez-Monguio, R., Smelson, D.A. et al. An Evaluation of Substance Abuse, Mental Health Disorders, and Gambling Correlations: an Opportunity for Early Public Health Interventions. Int J Ment Health Addiction 14, 618–633 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9589-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9589-3

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