Adolescent Prevention Program Effectiveness

Summary

School-based prevention programs incorporating both abstinence and harm-reduction strategies show a modest but statistically significant reduction in adolescent gambling behaviors.

Knowledge Gaps

• Insufficient data on the long-term durability of prevention effects beyond the school environment
• Lack of comparative studies between digital-only and in-person prevention programs

Concerns

The normalization of 'loot boxes' and gaming-gambling convergence may undermine traditional school-based prevention efforts.

Proposed Theories

• The 'Early Exposure' hypothesis suggests that early-life exposure to gambling-like mechanics in gaming creates a cognitive bias that increases susceptibility to adult gambling disorders.

Sources