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Monday, April 19, 2004 Evils of gambling outweigh economic gains, says UNI professor Although it sounds tempting, Katherine van Wormer, professor of social work at UNI, says the economic gains provided by gaming venues aren't worth the social costs. "We're all very desperate for this money right now, but national statistics show that for every $1 the state gains from a gambling establishment, there are $3 in social costs." Those social costs come in the form of divorces, bankruptcies, and embezzlements and other crimes.
Further, she says, although gambling-addicted individuals make up only about 3 percent of all gamblers, the rate of problem gamblers within a population increases when a gaming establishment sets up shop nearby. "Before they brought gambling boats to Davenport, the rate of problem gamblers was 1.7 percent. After the boats, the rate increased to 5.4 percent."
Van Wormer is author of the book, "Addiction Treatment: A Strengths Perspective."
Contact
Katherine van Wormer, professor of social work, (319) 273-7369, Katherine.vanWormer@uni.edu
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
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Turn it down
From blenders to rock concerts, the world today is a noisy place. So how loud is too loud? Bruce Plakke, associate professor of communicative disorders at UNI, says the answer might surprise most people.
''Vacuum cleaners, screaming babies, lawn mowers –- these can all cause noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss if the exposure occurs long enough,'' says Plakke. "Vacuum cleaners run 60 to 90 decibels (dBA); four hours of 90 dBA will result in hearing loss. Screaming babies are 100-117 dBA; all it takes is one hour at 100 dBA before hearing loss occurs."
Plakke says at least 16 million baby boomers alone suffer from hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is the second-leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss and it is preventable with education. "The best rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you have to shout over the noise to someone within three feet of you. If so, it's too loud."
Contact:
Bruce Plakke, associate professor, Communicative Disorders, (319) 273-3695, Bruce.Plakke@uni.edu
Melissa Barber, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
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