Gambling addiction

What Is Gambling Addiction?

Gambling addiction is an impulsive control problem, where the setting of choice is as changeable as the person addicted to gambling.  The list is long as to the different types of gambling choices, online gambling is getting more popular as opposed to people going out to the casinos.

Although more men are susceptible to gambling addiction which usually starts at a young age, probably during the teen years and play more games such as black jack, poker, sports betting but more and more women are developing this disorder mainly at a later age in life.  Estimates have shown that people who gamble socially have a two to five percent chance of becoming addicted to gambling where women accounts for twenty five percent of that chance.

The risk factors involved for gambling addiction are schizophrenia, moodiness, antisocial, alcohol, cocaine and people with low level of serotonin in the brain which can lead to the symptoms such as preoccupied with thoughts of gambling, need of more and more money, gambling to escape problems or reduce sadness, losing money but still gambling, lying, committing crimes to finance gambling, depending on others for money and risking important relationships.

In order to diagnose gambling addiction, a series of test have to done which involves a complete physical and psychological evaluation.  A complete history of the person’s symptoms which is done through a certain type of questioning, for example, how much time and money is spent on gambling, how is it financed and if the person have irresistible urges to gamble, does the person use alcohol or drugs and are there thoughts of death or suicide.  A mental status examination is also used to diagnose to see a person’s speech, thoughts or memory patterns have been affected.

There are no standardized treatment for gambling addiction except for GA (gambler’s anonymous), some medication such as lithium, which is used to decrease the urges and psychotherapy, which uses cognitive behavioral treatment.  The most successful treatment has been inpatient where psychotherapy is used.  About seventy percent of people who are being treated for gambling addiction also have another psychiatric problem, which should also be addressed in the treatment of gambling addiction.

The most complicated and negative consequence due to gambling addiction includes financial problems where debt can be so high that it leads to bankruptcy or poverty then to legal problems which could come from theft or prostitution and possibly suicide.

The negative consequences of gambling addiction in relation to the family is very serious because it can result to more domestic violence and child abuse, the children from gambling addiction is more likely to suffer depression, behavior problems and substance abuse.

When we look at all the different type of an addiction that exist, one thing is for sure and that is addiction is addiction is addiction.  Everyone, despite the addiction follows along the same pattern and it has a lot to do with the environment in which we were brought up, children learn by example and we all are/were children at one time or another.

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