OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI — The University of Mississippi has established the Center for Collegiate Gambling in Oxford, Mississippi, to address gambling issues among its student population. The center has established a task force focused on education and prevention efforts for gambling problems among college students.

Daniel Durkin, an associate professor of social work at the university, is a founding member of the center. The center is also conducting research and policy initiatives to address gambling issues among students.

As part of its intervention efforts, eight counselors at the university have received basic training on dealing with gambling problems. The training is designed to equip campus mental health staff with the ability to recognize and respond to students who may be experiencing gambling-related difficulties.

The center's creation followed a conference the university hosted a couple of years ago on college campus gambling issues that featured a gambling expert. The discussion at that conference prompted university administrators to support the establishment of the center.

A statewide study conducted last spring found that 40% of students were gambling and that a notable proportion of them experienced problems as a result. Despite those findings, the university's student health center has received few direct cases of gambling problems, leading staff to believe that students may view gambling as a financial issue rather than a health issue.

The center has received referrals concerning student gambling problems from parents, indicating that family members may be among the first to notice warning signs even when students themselves do not seek assistance.

The center plans to collaborate with other higher education institutions in Mississippi to develop tailored plans for preventing and addressing student gambling problems.