The Addiction Help .com

I know that it has to do w/ that fact that the States and cities make a ton of money on gambling, but i think they should be putting more money into treating the addiction.
It makes no difference that there's a substance involved in drugs or alcohol. The public doesn't realize that. The addiction is the part where you get high, whether it's from alcohol, drugs, or gambling.

Because, alcohol and drugs are substances....gambling is an action.....
Substances are more related to health issues than activities themselves...

2008-07-09 14:08:23 by stockjunkie

Howard Shaffer of Harvard Medical School discusses whether more availability of gambling in the United States will increase the rate of ...

he has admitted to me that he has a gambling addiction and i've tried helping him but now he just lies and denies the fact that he still gambles his whole pay and savings away every week. i don't know what to do anymore

that sounds like a classic addict to me- he lies and he's in denial. find your nearest 12-step program for gambling addicts on the internet or call 1-800-gamble.

2007-01-30 15:31:22 by nadia t

Price: $22.95 $20.65

the rate of families affected due to gambling problems each year, other useful facts on the causes of gambling addiction.

Pathological gambling is now defined as persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior meeting at least five of the following criteria, as long as these behaviors are not better explained by a manic episode:

1. Preoccupation. The subject has frequent thoughts about gambling experiences, whether past, future, or fantasy.

2. Tolerance. As with drug tolerance, the subject requires larger or more frequent wagers to experience the same "rush".

3. Withdrawal. Restlessness or irritability associated with attempts to cease or reduce gambling.

4. Escape. The subject gambles to improve mood or escape problems.

5. Chasing. The subject tries to win back gambling losses with more gambling.

6. Lying. The subject tries to hide the extent of his or her gambling by lying to family, friends, or therapists.

7. Loss of control. The subject has unsuccessfully attempted to reduce gambling.

8. Illegal acts. The subject has broken the law in order to obtain gambling money or recover gambling losses.

9. Risked significant relationship. The subject gambles despite risking or losing a relationship, job, or other significant opportunity.

10. Bailout. The subject turns to family, friends, or another third party for financial assistance as a result of gambling.

As debts build up people turn to other sources of money such as theft, or the sale of drugs. A lot of this pressure comes from bookies or loan sharks that people rely on for capital to gamble with. Also, a teenager that does not receive treatment for pathological gambling when in their desperation phase is likely to contemplate suicide. 20% of teenagers that are pathological gamblers do consider suicide. This according to the article High Stakes: Teens Gambling With Their Futures by Laura Paul.

Teens Gambling:

--67% of teens gamble.
--44% are non-problem gamblers.
--15% are at-risk gamblers.
--8% are pathological gamblers.
--20% Teens reaches their desperation phase contemplate suicide.
--1.6% of teens contemplate suicide as a result of pathological gambling.
--Gambling is 2 to 3 times more addictive for teens than adults.

Anecdotal accounts and media reports have made frequent reference to the disproportionate level of participation in gambling by people of Asian appearance or from Asian countries.

2006-10-25 22:59:46 by Ducky

Price: $45.00 $40.50

Come on she thinks she is going to sue the casino's for not stopping her! Is this what America has come down to? She stole money from clients so in fact like the criminals she puts in jail she belongs right there with them!

what's she got to lose at this point?

2008-03-10 06:27:48 by seahag

My very good friend can't seem to stop gambling. I read somewhere that this addiction is as bad as a heroin/junkie addiction.
Opinion's or anyone know any facts on the matter?

I've a good friend who was an alcoholic - stopped drinking.
Then he turned to crack and herion - kicked the habit
Then he started gambling - still struggling with it.
He told me that through all his addictions he still was able to keep his family, his home, his business and finances. Gambling took all that away from him and of all his addiction gambling was that one that brought him to the point where he was considering suicide.
He believes gambling is the worst of the worst and I've no reason to doubt him.

2007-12-11 05:07:52 by Lady Louisa