Experience of employee assistance programs with pathological gamblers

As part of research conducted for the New York State Office of Mental Health, New York members of ALMACA were sent a questionnaire inquiring into their experiences with compulsive gamblers. Out of 86 EAPs and providers replying to the survey, 64% had identified compulsive gamblers. These gamblers represented 1.4% of the total client population. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents that had identified compulsive gamblers (71% of EAPs and 15% of service providers) made referrals to outside treatment facilities with pathological gambling as a primary (or secondary) problem. Seventy-eight percent of the organizations that had someone attend training/education sessions about compulsive gambling employees in contrast with 45% of those that had not attended education/training sessions. Respondents indicated a need for basic, as well as advanced, training/education about compulsive gambling. There was also a recognition of the inadequacy of the existing level of treatment services, education and training in the state. The majority of the pathological gamblers presently seen by the New York State ALMACA members are addicted to chemicals, as well as gambling. This is in contrast with studies indicating that most compulsive gamblers are not dually addicted. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of theory and application.