Gambling Proliferation Attacked by Therapist Without Evidence

A California family therapist says increased exposure to gambling availability is causing more problem gambling, but his only evidence is anecdotal, while scientific research indicates otherwise.

While admitting that modern studies appear to prove pathological gambling is because of the chemical imbalances within the brain, a California therapist claims proliferation of gaming is creating new problem gambling cases. Michael Halyard says in a statement that "gambling is ubiquitous" and that "more gambling opportunities mean more compulsive gamblers."

Halyard acknowledges that compulsive gamblers has been found to have higher levels of dopamine or lower levels of norepinphrine of their brains than the common person. Yet somehow he concludes that increasing availability of gambling will cause new pathological gamblers, despite the fact that he doesn't say that the proliferation would cause a metamorphosis in dopamine or norepinphrine levels.

"Science is now showing us that for addicts, the a part of the brain that may be accountable for decision making is broken, that's why addicts of a wide variety continue the addictive behavior despite ever increasing negative consequences," states Halyard. This will appear to be in line with international surveys showing the share of problem gambling victims remains extremely constant across the world, without reference to tight or loose gambling laws.

But, with none useful statistical evidence, Halyard says he's been told stories by counselors that problem gambling is at the rise.

“My colleagues tell me that they have got gotten a rise in those seeking treatment for gambling addiction, including underage teens that get addicted to Internet gambling,” asserts Halyard.

However, anecdotal evidence is regarded as with reference to useless in determining scientific fact. Without controls and measures, word-of-mouth recollections are subject to mistakes, exaggeration, and out of doors factors beyond the study. For instance, although Halyard's friends' instincts turned out to correspond to a real numerical increase, the cause might be more readily accessible help programs, in preference to more individual problems.

Without objective scientific measurement, akin to Dr. Howard Shaffer's years-long study at Harvard Medical School proving how slight the risk of problem gambling at online casinos is, anecdotal tales by interested parties is set as useful as a car salesman's opinion on how great the auto he's selling is.

Published on January 2, 2010 by VirginiaMaddox

Read More... [Source: California Gambling News]