According to new studies supported by the Colorado Division of Gaming, first responders are at a higher risk of having gambling addiction.
A nationwide telehealth provider based in Massachusetts, Kindbridge Behavioral Health focuses on therapy and mental health treatment for various addictions, such as gambling, pornography, sex, and video gaming.
The Kindbridge Research Institute, Kindbridge's nonprofit division, lately conducted the first responder study in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, a top gambling harm prevention consulting based in the UK.
A five-alarm worry regarding gambling rates among the individuals who are the first on the scene of an emergency is raised by the study "Gambling Among First Responders in the United States."
According to the study, gambling is almost ubiquitous among EMS staff, cops, and firefighters; 94.5% of first responders claim to have gambled in the last 12 months. About 39% of those who met the problem gambling criteria were categorized as at risk, compared to roughly 44% who met the serious criteria.
“The findings from this study indicated that first responders are at a high risk of gambling harm, with firefighters and those with a military background being the most vulnerable,” Kindbridge Research Institute noted.
The Institute added that the findings highlighted the need for developing and carrying out specialized prevention programs as well as education on the possible dangers of gambling for this population.
Jobs at Risk
Online surveys were utilized to collect data from 507 first responders for the Kindbridge research. With 281 of the original 788 answers removed due to reliability issues, the sample was thoroughly examined.
The study revealed a connection between first responders' exposure to danger as a regular component of their professions and their propensity to engage in financial risks via gambling.
When Casino.org reported last month on an assistant fire chief who stole $1.6 million from his volunteer department to pay gambling losses, the vulnerability was starkly demonstrated. Researchers identified firefighters as the group most at risk, with almost half (49%) meeting the criteria for problem gambling.
Problem gambling is frequently associated with PTSD, sometimes known as post-traumatic stress disorder. First responders who claimed they did not have PTSD were 89% less likely to experience or come close to having a gambling problem.
"First responders are exposed to high-risk situations, making them vulnerable to a range of mental health problems and addictive behaviors, including PTSD and problem gambling,” the study reported.
First responders are at higher risk of experiencing mental health problems due to frequent exposure to emotional distress, according to a 2022 research in the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, which Kindbridge cited.
“Although their roles are crucial and indispensable to the community, first responders are at risk of experiencing several physical and mental health problems due to their exposure to life-threatening incidents and trauma,” the study read.
Suggestions for learning
Kindbridge determined that problem gambling among first responders in the US is a significant and underappreciated occupational health risk.
The study suggests that evidence-based training and intervention programs be implemented by employers, and that specialized prevention and education activities be created and adapted to first responders. According to the scientists, the goal is to "protect and promote first responders' wellbeing."
The report serves as a strong reminder to both public safety leaders and gambling authorities that those who rush into dangerous situations at work may be just as susceptible to them on the casino floor.
