Problem Gambling among Service Members and Veterans: Education, Awareness, and Outreach

Webinar – SAMHSA’s SMFV TA Centers Hosts Webinar on Problem Gambling Among Service Members and Veterans

Although gambling is a popular activity both among the wider U.S. population and among the service member and Veteran community, gambling also brings with it the risk of developing a gambling disorder. Gambling disorder is a condition that is identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as “persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to…significant impairment or distress” (APA, 2022).

U.S. military Veterans have been found to likely have higher rates of gambling disorder as compared to the civilian population and are at an increased risk for problem gambling behaviors according to a systematic review of published literature. Gambling disorders often occur with other conditions, such as trauma-related conditions, substance use, and suicidality in the military-affiliated population (Etuk, Shirk, Grubbs, & Kraus, 2020).

This webinar will provide attendees with information related to the prevalence of problem gambling among the service member and Veteran population. Attendees will also have an opportunity to learn about outreach strategies and available treatment options, as well as educational and awareness resources from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Council on Problem Gambling, and state-level problem gambling councils.

Moderator

Duane K. L. France, M.A., M.B.A., LPC, Co-Director, SAMHSA’ s SMVF Technical Assistance Center

Presenters

Heather A. Chapman, Ph.D., Director, Gambling Treatment Program, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Jonathan Crandall, B.S.W., CRPA, Veteran Outreach Coordinator, New York Council on Problem Gambling
David Yeager, Army Veteran

Learning Objectives

Offer an introduction to problem gambling in the U.S. service member and Veteran population
Provide an example of an effective gambling disorder treatment program in the VA
Demonstrate the effectiveness of dedicated military and Veteran outreach specialists affiliated with State Councils on Problem Gambling
Describe the outreach efforts by the National Council on Problem Gambling to support members of the military-affiliated population