Prof David C Hodgins

Plenary Speaker

Prof David C Hodgins is a professor in the Program in Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology, University of Calgary and is director of the Addictive Behaviours Lab at the University of Calgary. Prof Hodgins is also a research coordinator with the Alberta Gambling Research Institute. His research interests focus on various aspects of addictive behaviours including relapse and recovery from substance abuse and gambling disorders. Prof Hodgins teaches in the clinical psychology program and has an active cadre of graduate students. He maintains a private practice in Calgary in addition to providing consultation to organizations internationally.

Abstract

Plenary Title: Advances in Reducing Gambling Disorder

Commercial gambling is continuing to grow in many jurisdictions around the world. The prevalence of gambling disorder ranges from 0.1% to 5.7% of adults, and many more experience gambling-related harms to themselves or their families. Although rates of treatment-seeking for gambling disorder are low, recent research shows that many individuals are making active self-directed attempts to reduce gambling. The pathways and strategies people are trying in their change attempts and their success will be presented and discussed. This presentation will also describe an international initiative to develop evidence-based lower risk gambling guidelines that people can use to gauge their level of gambling involvement (how often, how much, how many types?). Public health approaches have focused mainly on educating consumers about the harms and providing general advice for people to gamble responsibly. These lower risk guidelines aim to provide more specific advice about the risk of harm. The guidelines are also useful for clinicians to help individuals to set personal limits and for industry to direct consumers to pre-commit to relatively safe personal time and expenditure limits.