The Colorado Office of School Safety is highlighting an important educational resource from the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC). Understanding the intersection of neurodiversity and addictive behaviors is essential for creating safe and supportive environments for students and community members.
This webinar, titled Gambling Disorder & ADHD, explores why individuals with ADHD are statistically more likely to develop gambling-related issues and provides actionable strategies for clinical and educational support.
Exploring the Neurobiological Link
Research suggests that the relationship between ADHD and gambling disorder is deeply rooted in shared neurological challenges. These commonalities often make the fast-paced, high-reward nature of modern gambling particularly enticing to neurodivergent individuals.
- Dopamine Regulation: Both conditions involve differences in the brain’s reward system, leading to a constant search for stimulation.
- Executive Function: Challenges with planning and foresight can make it difficult to evaluate long-term consequences over immediate gratification.
- Impulsivity and Risk-Taking: These core ADHD traits can lead to "chasing losses" or making rapid financial decisions without a cooling-off period.
- Emotional Regulation: Gambling is often used as a form of self-medication to escape boredom, restlessness, or emotional distress.
Webinar Highlights
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to identify and treat these overlapping conditions through:
- Reviewing the latest research on the ADHD-gambling connection.
- Identifying specific warning signs and symptoms in dual-diagnosis clients.
- Learning practical, clinically relevant interventions.
- Engaging in interactive learning to apply these strategies in real-world settings.
Featured Presenter
Megan Poliquin, LPCC-S, LICDC-GAMB, OCPSA Megan is the Manager of Gambling Treatment at the Zepf Center and the 2025 recipient of the Don Hulen Award for Awareness and Advocacy. Her clinical perspective is uniquely informed by her professional expertise and her lived experience with adult ADHD, providing a compassionate and authentic lens to the training.
Event Registration
- Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
- Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Virtual (Zoom)
- Register Here
This content and event are provided by the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado. For more information on their work or to access their resource library, please visit cogamblerhelp.org.