A study conducted by researchers at McGill University in partnership with the Douglas Research Centre has revealed that individuals identified as having a gambling addiction in Quebec attended an average of less than two free rehabilitation sessions over the 13‑year period from 2009 to 2022.
The analysis covered data on service use across the province, where a network of publicly funded programs provides treatment at no charge to people seeking help for gambling‑related problems. Despite the absence of a financial barrier, the findings show that participation rates remain very low, with most clients engaging in only a single session or none at all.
Researchers attribute the limited attendance to a range of factors that were not measured in the study, but the data underscore a gap between the availability of free treatment and its actual utilization. The study period, spanning more than a decade, captures the ongoing pattern of underuse, suggesting that the issue is not confined to a short‑term fluctuation.
The results arrive at a time when public health officials in Quebec are monitoring the broader impacts of gambling on mental health and social wellbeing. By quantifying how rarely the free services are accessed, the research provides a baseline for evaluating future outreach and policy initiatives aimed at encouraging more people with gambling addictions to seek professional help.
The authors of the study emphasize that the low average number of sessions per person points to a need for better awareness of the resources that exist, as well as potential adjustments to how those services are delivered or promoted. While the programs remain cost‑free, the data indicate that financial accessibility alone does not guarantee sufficient uptake among those who could benefit.
The study’s authors hope that the findings will inform stakeholders about the current state of service use and guide efforts to improve engagement, ultimately reducing the personal and societal costs associated with gambling addiction in Quebec.