A hidden curriculum: gambling and problem gambling among high school students in Auckland.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Participation in gambling by young people aged 13-18 years.

METHOD: During 2001, prior to the passing of legislation to minimise gambling harm, more than 500 students from six high schools completed a survey of their participation in gambling during the previous 12 months, and completed three problem gambling screens.

RESULTS

Gambling, including under-age gambling, was a common event. Up to one in five were identified as at risk for problem gambling on at least one screen. Students who were non-European, or were from low socioeconomic areas, were more likely to be at risk for problem gambling. Help for gambling problems was preferred from friends and family rather than others, while inclusion of information in the education curriculum about risk of gambling problems was supported.

CONCLUSIONS

The survey provided evidence for pre-legislation baseline gambling behaviour, and risk for problem gambling, of students attending high schools in Auckland. Levels of risk for problem gambling paralleled the elevated risk found for youth in many countries. Raising awareness, through a school curriculum, of risk for gambling problems among adolescents may be explored as a strategy to reduce the high levels of risk for gambling problems identified.