The National Conference on Behavioural Addictions – Strengthening Public Health Responses to Gambling and Digital Risks brought together representatives of Croatian public authorities, regulatory bodies, the private sector, academia and civil society to discuss national priorities and strengthen coordinated responses to online gambling- and video gaming-related harms.
Co-organised by the Croatian Institute of Public Health within the framework of the European Union–Council of Europe Joint Project “Promoting the mental health of children and youth by addressing the risks of online gambling and gaming ” (TSI project), the conference highlighted progress in strengthening public-private cooperation to address behavioural addictions.
A key achievement of this collaboration and central point of discussion at the conference was the Guiding Document for Cooperation with the Private Sector in the Area of Problematic Gambling and Video Gaming in Croatia. The document is the result of an eight-month process involving a national Working Group of 18 professionals representing relevant ministries and the private sector.
This work benefited from the scientific expertise and guidance of Professor Marc N. Potenza, MD, PhD, of Yale University, an internationally recognised expert in gambling-related disorders and addictive behaviours.
At the conference, Professor Potenza presented his contribution to strengthening public–private cooperation guiding document. He also joined discussions on challenges in the care of people affected by behavioural addictions and the potential role of artificial intelligence.
The conference further addressed national strategies, epidemiological trends, digital risks affecting children and young people, and approaches to prevention and treatment. International experiences and good practices, including those from Portugal developed with the support of the TSI project offered further opportunities for knowledge exchange and learning.
The development of the Guiding Document marks an important achievement in Croatia's participation in the TSI Project. It demonstrates the value of cross-border scientific collaboration and cross-sector cooperation in strengthening national responses to problematic gambling and video gaming supporting health and well-being of children and young people.
This event is supported by the Technical Support Instrument project that is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Commission.
