Pathological Gambling aka Gambling Addiction, Compulsive Gambling Gambling is defined as playing a game of chance for stakes and, for most people, gambling isn't a problem. For others, pathological gambling is a progressive disease that devastates not only the gambler but everyone with whom he or she has a significant relationship.
NHS: The CNWL National Problem Gambling Clinic in London has doctors, nurses, therapists, psychologists, debt counsellors and family therapists with special experience in helping problem gamblers. Gamcare - runs the national HelpLine and its online equivalent, the NetLine, to offer help and support for people with a gambling problem, their family and friends.
The health and social costs of problem gambling appear to exceed government revenue gained from gambling taxes and businesses (Irish Institute of Public Health, 2010). 1 in 5 people with gambling problems attempt suicide - more than double to figure of other addictions (U.S. figures, National Council for Problem Gambling).
Getting Help for Gambling Addiction. Although gambling addiction is a serious, destructive order that results from changes in the brain, it doesn’t require a detox program like alcohol or drug addiction treatment. Instead, it can be successfully treated with a combination of different types of therapy, group support and recovery resources.
Gambling addiction relapse is a part of the overall addiction treatment program. It is not just an inability to tame the cravings. In fact, it is a dysfunctional response to a tempting situation. Typically, it occurs during the first few weeks after giving up an addiction. Then the risk decreases gradually. This is as the time of abstinence extends.
Gambling addiction linked to genes. Friday 11 June 2010 “Gambling addiction can be inherited,” the Daily Mail reported. The newspaper said, “if one of your parents is addicted to gambling the odds are high that you will be as well, research has revealed”. This study in 2,889 pairs of twins investigated the role of genetic and environmental factors in the development of gambling.
Problem gambling is the term that is most commonly used in Canada. It is descriptive and inclusive of the idea that this problem can exist on a continuum from very minor to very severe. It is often used to describe gambling behaviour that involves some type of harmful consequence. Problem gambling includes, but is not limited to, compulsive gambling and pathological gambling. It is often.
GamCare is the leading national provider of free information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling. Are gambling problems affecting you, or those close to you? Our expert services are confidential and non-judgemental.