Addressing a widespread but often clandestine issue, The Ohio State University's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery (HECAOD) has turned its focus towards a rising problem haunting college campuses—gambling. While the HECAOD has been a vanguard in alcohol and drug misuse prevention since 2015, it wasn't until 2023 that the center acknowledged the stealthy epidemic of problem gambling among students, adding a critical element to their mission.
"Folks doing work in the community gambling space have known that for a long time," Cindy Clouner, HECAOD's managing director, told OSU News. However, the issue went unnoticed on campuses; this gap in awareness prompted the inauguration of the Collegiate Problem Gambling Workgroup in 2023. Jim Lange, the HECAOD's executive director, highlighted the importance of community input, explaining, "We invited all the people that we could find. It began to snowball – people were bringing other folks they knew. It’s been really helpful." The problem of gambling is harder to spot, unlike alcohol misuse, which can be visually and audibly obtrusive, problem gambling often flies under the radar, escaping the attention of peers and educators alike.
With gambling's inconspicuous nature in the digital age, students may indulge in harmful betting activities through a few covert taps on their mobile devices, without drawing any attention to themselves. Lange stresses the severe consequences of unchecked gambling habits, elucidating how financial havoc wreaked by gambling can erect impassable roadblocks to academic success and may even lead to suicidal ideation.
HECAOD not only identifies the problems but partners with the Office of Student Life's Student Wellness Center at Ohio State, providing much-needed resources for coping with gambling addiction. Clouner recognizes the privilege in resources that Ohio State possesses when she says other campuses aren't as well-equipped. "We’re lucky at Ohio State. We have a large wellness center with multiple staff," according to OSU News. Their efforts have been supercharged by a $40,000 Agility Grant from the National Council on Problem Gambling, which was awarded last year. With that, HECAOD aims to extend its reach to combat gambling issues across the nation by training over 30 statewide coalitions under the National Consortium of State Coalitions which will trickle down to a projected 1,000 campuses.
Notably, HECAOD's programs address not just those grappling with gambling hands-on, but also peers on the lookout for friends caught in the compulsion's grip, "Sometimes a friend is seeking help," Lange explained. “They have a relationship with someone and they’re concerned about that person. That’s been identified as a really important component of the training of students.” Clouner likewise offers reassurance for those seeking assistance, saying through OSU News, “If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else’s behavior, there are trained people who can help you get connected with resources.” In an age where college student wellness issues are multifaceted, these laudable steps by the HECAOD signal a long-overdue yet vital commitment to holistic student welfare.
