High Stakes for High Schoolers
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, many young people report their first gambling experience occurs around 9-11 years of age. About 60 percent of high school students have gambled for money in the past year, and 10 to 14 percent are at risk of developing a gambling problem.
Research has shown that gambling bears a striking similarity to alcohol and other drug addictions from a neurobiological perspective – and because of their developing brains, adolescents are considered particularly vulnerable to gambling addiction, highlighting the importance of early education and prevention.
The rise of sports betting apps targeting teens and young adults is fueling gambling addictions globally. By eliminating the time and space barriers of traditional gambling, these apps make underage access easier than ever before, raising serious concerns.
Here’s why teens are particularly vulnerable:
Emotions on Overdrive: The adolescent limbic system craves rewards, and gambling apps deliver— flashing notifications, unpredictable wins, and dopamine hits make gambling dangerously addictive.
Impulse vs. Judgment: Teens' underdeveloped prefrontal cortex means poor risk assessment and impulsive decisions. The result? A perfect storm for risky and consequential bets.
Game-Like Traps: Sports betting platforms hook teens with free bets, streak rewards, and dynamic visuals, exploiting the same brain circuits that make video games and nicotine hard to quit.
Cultural Normalization: Advertising and “sponsored content” portray gambling as fun and social, glamorizing the habit and drawing teens into the illusion of control over inherently unpredictable outcomes.
How Can We Address Student Gambling?
The way gambling rewires the brain’s reward system mirrors the effects of substance use, fostering a dependency on dopamine surges and driving compulsive behaviors. With the growing prevalence of student gambling and its clear parallels to addiction, it’s critical to shift focus toward proactive, targeted prevention strategies that address these risks head-on.
At Prevention Ed, we’re tackling student gambling in the classroom. Here’s how:
Exploring the Brain Science: By teaching teens how gambling manipulates their reward systems, we empower them to understand how these platforms exploit their vulnerabilities.
Building Awareness: We expose the tactics used by gambling platforms, helping students recognize and resist these manipulative strategies.
Secondary Prevention: We guide students on recognizing the signs of problematic gambling behavior and provide resources for seeking help, fostering a supportive environment where they feel empowered to reach out when needed.
Addressing gambling prevention alongside substance use education is essential to safeguarding students' health and well-being. Using the latest research, we can empower schools to build awareness, foster resilience, and equip students with the tools to make healthier choices. Together, we can create a lasting impact—reach out today to learn how we can support these efforts. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Preventing Harm: A Call to Support LGBTQ Youth in Schools
We’re witnessing a heartbreaking crisis among LGBTQ youth, driven by social exclusion, cultural hostility, and political rhetoric that makes them feel unseen and unsafe. Right now, these students face heightened discrimination, harassment, and exclusion—key risk factors for substance use and addiction. Now, more than ever, they need our support.
Numbers We Can’t Ignore
Research shows LGBTQ youth are more likely to experience bullying, harassment, and family rejection, contributing to higher rates of mental health struggles and substance use disorders.
81.8% of LGBTQ students feel unsafe at school due to their identity (2021 National School Climate Survey).
Trans youth are 2.5 to 4 times more likely to use substances compared to their non-trans peers, with higher rates of alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis use (PubMed)
The LGBTQ community uses substances at 3-4 times the rate of the general population (National Institute of Health).
Discrimination Drives Addiction Risk
Being LGBTQ is not a risk factor for substance use, rather, homophobia and transphobia are inherently risky social conditions. When these harmful social conditions exist in schools, homes, or communities, they threaten LGBTQ youth's mental, social, spiritual, and physical health.
Belonging: A Powerful Protective Factor
A strong sense of belonging is one of the most effective defenses against addiction. LGBTQ youth who feel connected to their school and community are significantly less likely to engage in substance use. School belonging, in particular, is a critical prevention strategy for schools & families.
Prevention Goes Beyond A Substance Use Prevention Program
As a queer-owned organization, we recognize the critical role identity plays in mental health and substance use – our role as consultants focusing on health and wellbeing is to highlight all risk factors students face. Prevention Ed stands with schools worldwide as a committed partner in creating inclusive classrooms that are affirming and safe for all students. Our goal is to help foster a culture of belonging that isn’t just supportive—it’s lifesaving.
How We Support Our LGBTQ Students
With LGBTQ youth facing increasing levels of discrimination, the time to strengthen prevention efforts is now. Schools, policymakers, and communities can make a marked difference by investing in:
Regular Check-Ins with LGBTQ Students: Build intentional connections through consistent, meaningful check-ins. Let students know they are seen, heard, and valued.
Creating Affirming Spaces: Display visible signs of support such as LGBTQ-inclusive posters, pride flags, and literature. Ensure that curriculum, language, and school policies reflect diversity and inclusivity.
Mental Health Support: Provide access to counselors trained in LGBTQ-affirming care. Implement programs that promote emotional well-being and resilience among all students.
Evidence-Based Substance Use Prevention: Address the unique risk factors that LGBTQ youth face related to substance use. Offer prevention programs that are culturally responsive and affirm students' identities.
Research shows that even one supportive adult can significantly reduce the risk of suicide for LGBTQ youth. Schools have the power to be that lifeline. Safety and belonging aren’t optional; they’re the foundation. Without them, prevention education is just information—lacking the roots needed to take hold and truly make a difference.
Prevention Tips for a Great Start to the School Year!
Prevention Ed is passionate about educating communities about the risks and realities associated with alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and other drugs. We believe prevention is a culture and a collaborative process developed through strategic prevention planning with community stakeholders and supported by comprehensive substance use education. We are allies in the health of your community and strive to create positive change in the lives of young people. Here are some prevention tips and strategies to start considering as you plan for a happy and healthy 2024-2025 school year.
Stick to the Science: The landscape of alcohol and drug use varies across cultures and countries, but adolescent brain development is universal. While your community may hold diverse opinions on this topic, basing policy and curricula on opinions is a sure way to undermine prevention efforts. It's crucial to communicate substance use is a health issue and research shows: that the most effective protective factor for teens is delaying the use of alcohol and other drugs during this critical period of brain development.
Make Students Equal Partners in the Conversation: Over the past decade, our founder Katie has asked students worldwide, "What is the most frustrating response from your parents when you ask them why you can't do something?" The answer is consistently, "Because I said so." Similar to the "just say no" approach to prevention, that answer doesn't give students the information they need to make the healthiest choice for them. Making students equal partners in the conversation—exploring why they should delay alcohol and drug use, debunking misinformation, discussing their perspectives on substance use in their community, state, or country, and truly listening to their perceptions—transforms the experience from an eye-rolling "drug talk" into a meaningful conversation where they feel heard, respected, and validated. As a result, students leave the conversation more likely to absorb the information and make an informed choice about their non-use or use of alcohol and other drugs.
Center Student Health and Safety: Think of substance use prevention as another part of your community’s approach to childhood safeguarding. Beyond preventing addiction, our goal at Prevention Ed is to help ensure the safety and well-being of our students by arming them with need-to-know information. As students get older, the percentage of alcohol use increases, and parents may provide a "safe place" for them to drink which research shows results in higher amounts of alcohol consumption increasing the likelihood of negative consequences from drinking. These negative consequences can include:
Getting hurt or injured
Alcohol poisoning
Riding as a passenger in a vehicle after the driver has been drinking
Having a fight/argument/bad feelings with a family member or friend
Experiencing an unwanted sexual encounter
The increased likelihood of using nicotine, cannabis, and other drugs
When discussing the safety and well-being of our students with the community, it's essential to clearly outline the immediate risks that alcohol and other drugs pose. Equally important is emphasizing the school's commitment to prevention as a vital component of student health, particularly for the parent community.