Does legalized gambling elevate the risk of suicide?

An analysis of U.S. counties and metropolitan areas. McCleary R, Chew KS, Merrill V, Napolitano C. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2002; 32(2): 209-221.

Correspondence: Richard D. McCleary, Department of Environmental Analysis and Design, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine 92697-7070, USA; (email: [email protected]). This study addresses a possible link between suicide and casino gambling.

Resident suicide rates are analyzed for (a) a 1990 cross-section of 148 U.S. metropolitan areas and (b) before and after the advent of legalized casinos in five U.S. counties. Data are drawn from government and gaming industry sources. In cross-section, metro area suicide is strongly correlated with region, accidental death and homicide rates, age and race composition, and economic vitality, followed by a modest net positive correlation with casino presence.

By contrast, the time series analysis yields no evidence of a gambling effect. (Copyright © 2002 American Association of ... more.

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