(a) The office shall develop a gambling disorder prevention program, which shall consist of all of the following:
(1) A toll-free telephone service for immediate crisis management with subsequent referrals of gamblers and affected individuals to health providers at various levels of care who can provide treatment for gambling disorders and related problems and to self-help groups.
(2) Public awareness campaigns that focus on prevention and education among the general public including, for example, dissemination of youth oriented preventive literature, educational experiences, and public service announcements in the media.
(3) Empirically driven research programs focusing on epidemiology/prevalence, etiology/causation, and best practices in prevention and treatment.
(4) Training of health care professionals and educators, and training for law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations in the identification of gambling disorders and knowledge of referral services and treatment programs.
(5) Training of gambling industry personnel in identifying customers at risk for gambling disorders and knowledge of referral and treatment services.
(b) The office shall develop a treatment program for California residents who have a gambling disorder or who are affected individuals. The treatment program may consist of all of the following components:
(1) Training for licensed health providers, including screening and assessment of gambling disorders, the use of evidence-based treatment modalities, and the administrative practices for treatment services implemented under this chapter.
(2) A network of licensed health providers authorized to receive reimbursement from the state for the provision of treatment services. This network may be created through partnerships with established health or substance use disorder facilities or individuals in private practice that can provide treatment for gambling disorders. State funded treatment services may include, but are not limited to, the following: self-administered, home-based educational programs; telephone counseling; group treatment; outpatient treatment; and inpatient residential treatment when medically necessary.
(3) A research program to conduct studies and develop evidence-based tools for use in treating gambling disorders.
(4) A funding allocation methodology that ensures treatment services are delivered efficiently and effectively to areas of the state most in need.
(5) Appropriate review and monitoring of the treatment program by the director of the office or a designated institution, including grant oversight and monitoring of contracts, the standards for treatment, and outcome monitoring.
(6) Treatment efforts shall provide services that are relevant to the needs of a diverse multicultural population with attention to groups with unique needs, including female gamblers, underserved ethnic groups, the elderly, and the physically challenged.
(c) The office shall make information available as requested by the Governor and the Legislature with respect to the comprehensive program.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 18, Sec. 29. (SB 75) Effective June 24, 2015.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018