Problem Gambling study

charlesjay · #1 (**permalink**) 01-31-2007, 12:13 AM

This is a release put out by the Office of Problem Gambling. I am well aware that there are problem gamblers, but my belief is that customarily these figures are inflated, because the studies are often based on interviews, and the subjects of those interviews tend to blame gambling or other "addictions" for their problems that might not have anything to do with that activity. Then in turn, these studies are used for ammunition in pro/con arguments surrounding gambling. Maybe you disagree.

OFFICE OF PROBLEM GAMBLING RELEASES LARGEST PREVALENCE STUDY IN THE NATION

SACRAMENTO -- Today, the Office of Problem Gambling (OPG) today unveiled the most comprehensive prevalence study of problem gambling ever conducted in the nation. The survey found that between 750,000 and 1.2 million California adults are considered pathological or problem gamblers.

Read the entire release:
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bonuslover · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 08:17 PM

lol, very interesting!

Siouxzee · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 11:47 PM

I heard on the news the other day that a group had commissioned a study on the number of children with autism. The numbers they got back weren't big enough to have an impact I guess because they decided they needed to broaden the catagory traits so they could include some not specifically considered autistic in the survey. They were then able to report that children affected by autism using the much broader, more generalized terms, was actually much higher than reported, justifying their demands for more government funds to study its cause/effects. Manipulation to create the desired end result.

charlesjay · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-2007, 03:47 AM

Well, let me offer this as well -- what is said about any kind of addicts, whether it be drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc. is that they have a tendency to be very natural at lying.

Drugs and alcohol are things that can at least be traced physically in the system. Gambling can not be. As a result, those conducting these "studies" must rely an awful lot on what the "problem gamblers" themselves tell them.

If they can not be sure whether they are being told the truth, how exact can that kind of science possibly be?

CJ