Addiction is one of the biggest mysteries human psychology. Researchers are always looking for answers relating to how individuals become addicted to certain substances and behaviours, and problem gambling has been the most elusive. Recently, researchers have discovered links between gambling addiction and substance abuse, providing some insight into the minds of problem gamblers.
Dr Flora Matheson is a research scientist at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health at St Michael’s Hospital. She has recently carried out research that connects substance abuse and problem gambling. Her findings note that there is a significant correlation between gambling addiction and substance abuse and that problem gamblers who are also addicted to illicit substances can be more difficult to treat.
Another recent study by the Royal College of Psychiatrist in Wales has also found a connection between problem gambling and alcoholism. It found that one in six individuals who sought help for alcohol abuse was also a problem gambler. They found many parallels between the two types of addiction, and stated that they could be treated ‘side-by-side’.
"Research evidence has also shown how those people with gambling addiction have a much higher activation of the reward areas in the brain than those without, and these are similar to the areas of the brain that are involved in alcohol use disorders,” says Dr Raman Sahkuja, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Overseas in South Korea, lawmakers are considering classifying gaming addiction and gambling addiction with other anti-social addictions like substance abuse. Research is showing that these two types of abuse are more closely related that we had initially thought. So, it could certainly help to benefit individuals who are affected by these addictions.
At the recent International Gambling Conference in Auckland, Judge Mark Farrell spoke about his thoughts on gambling addiction and how criminals should be treated. In many countries around the world, criminals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol can undergo treatment programs for the compulsions. Judge Farrell aims to provide problem gamblers with the same treatment. He states that it is far more effective to treat problem gamblers than to jail them, as they are unlikely to re-offend after taking part in a one year problem gambling treatment program.
By making connections between gambling addiction and other forms of substance abuse, we can come up with more effective ways to treat problem gamblers and prevent players from developing addictive behaviour. There is still more research to be done before we can draw final conclusions, but we are certainly heading in the right direction.
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