Marion County Oregon - Oregon Youth Surveys

Problem Gambling Prevention

Oregon Youth Surveys

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Oregon Youth Surveys

Oregon Healthy Teens Survey 2006:
Youth Gambling Is Risky


    Oregon Healthy Teens (OHT) is Oregon's anonymous and voluntary research-based survey monitoring the health and well being of adolescents. The graphs which follow indicate that students who gamble are significantly more likely to participate in other risk behaviors. At present, gambling is too often seen as a harmless way for youth to spend time, and is even touted as a healthy “alternative” to drugs and alcohol. The OHT data indicate that gambling is one of many activities that carry risk and should be addressed as such in school and community prevention efforts.

2006 Oregon Healthy Teens Survey: Results
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Oregon Youth Gambling Survey

        In 2005 and 2006, eight regions across the state of Oregon surveyed a total of 2,479 youth regarding gambling. Though the survey is not scientific, it provides a valuable touch-point for current gambling behaviors among Oregon youth (see also: Oregon Healthy Teens survey later in this section).  The instrument was developed by the Oregon Problem Gambling Prevention Committee in 2005, and a Lane County Health & Human Services survey analyst was consulted during its development. Once developed, regional Problem Gambling Services prevention coordinators were invited to use either the hard copy or online versions of the survey.  Surveys were disseminated in classroom settings principally in the following regions: Grant, Harney, Jackson, Lane, Malheur, Marion, Polk, and Washington Counties. The surveys were completed in the course of a classroom-based youth gambling prevention activity, and respondents were ensured confidentiality. There were no formal instructions for completing the survey. Once completed, the surveys were sent to Oregon Problem Gambling Services for compiling.

Key Findings:

Cards and sports bets are favorites

Survey results indicate the most preferred types of gambling were card games (42%), games of personal skill (40%), and sports bets (34%).

Teens bet in homes and at school

By far the most popular place to gamble was at home. About two in three (64%) said they gambled at home, followed by a friend or family member's house (48%), and at school (24%).

For more information about the survey, contact:

Julie Hynes, Oregon Problem Gambling Prevention Consultant, (julie.hynes@co.lane.or.us / 541.682.3928).

2005-2006 Oregon Youth Gambling Survey: Results
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