Compulsive Gambling Centers
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Compulsive Gambling Centers

Compulsive Gambling Centers

Compulsive gambling occurs when a person resorts to gambling without the ability to control it, in spite of potential devastating consequences. It can cause devastation to a person’s financial well-being, can shatter families and cause other serious personal problems. Problem gambling results in a regular pattern of gambling even in spite of a desire to stop.

Compulsive gambling facts

Early desires to gamble may start out as buying an occasional lottery ticket or making an occasional bet at the racetrack or even an occasional card game or trip to the casino. For most people, gambling occasionally does not cause significant problems. However, for some people, occasional betting leads to more frequent gambling and behaviors to cover up the behavior, which becomes problematic. When a person starts resorting to gambling more often, they may lie about where they are going, may not tell the truth regarding what happened to their paycheck money or to money in the bank. Betting with friends will end because the person with latent problems starts gambling alone. As serious financial problems occur, it can lead to loss of utilities and housing. Arguments and other problems at home are blamed on other things and not their behavior. Some people with a compulsive gambling problem even turn to committing crimes to support their habit.

In 2011, the National Institutes on Health (NIH) indicated that between 2 per cent and 4 per cent of Americans struggle with compulsive gambling issues. The younger you start betting, the more likely you are to have problems with compulsive gambling later on.

In spite of gambling leading to problems at home, work and in the gambling addict’s social life, the person addicted to gambling is often not likely to seek out professional help. They still chase that big jackpot or huge lottery ticket dream, no matter the consequences.

Symptoms of compulsive gambling

Symptoms of compulsive behavior may vary from one person to the next; however, there are specific symptoms that may indicate a serious problem. Medline Plus, a division of the NIH cites information from the American Psychiatric Association, indicating that an individual with compulsive or pathological gambling problems will have at least five of the following symptoms:

  • Committing crimes to get money to gamble
  • Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or quit
  • Gambling to escape problems or feelings of sadness or anxiety
  • Betting larger amounts of money to try to make back past losses
  • Losing a job, relationship, education, or career opportunity due to gambling
  • Lying about the amount of time or money spent gambling
  • Making many unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit
  • Needing to borrow money due to gambling losses
  • Needing to gamble larger amounts of money in order to feel excitement
  • Spending a lot of time thinking about gambling, such as remembering past experiences or ways to get more money with which to gamble

Compulsive behavior is not just an intense desire to gamble in spite of the consequences; it actually “can stimulate the brain’s reward system much like drugs such as alcohol can, leading to addiction,” according to the Mayo Clinic. In fact, many people who are addicted to gambling also have substance abuse or mental health disorders or both.

Compulsive gambling and substance abuse

Compulsive gambling is often associated with substance abuse, particularly with alcoholism. In “Pathological Gambling and Alcohol Use Disorder,” researchers concluded that compulsive gambling is more common among individuals with alcohol-related disorders when compared to individuals without alcohol-related disorders. It is suggested that common factors may increase the risk for both compulsive gambling and the alcohol-related disorders. Researchers concluded that there is evidence that disordered gambling behavior and AUD co-occur in U.S. and Canadian residents at a rate exceeding that expected by chance.” Similarly, the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling indicates that among those with related issues in the state of Massachusetts, 73 per cent also had an alcohol disorder, 38 per cent had problems with other drugs and 60 per cent were “nicotine-dependent.” Still another study indicated that people with compulsivity problems are “a hidden population among people with mental health or substance abuse issues who often don’t get the treatment they need.”

Compulsive gambling help

One of the issues with getting help is the perceived lack of compulsive gambling treatment centers. However, the United States government, state government and communities are recognizing that compulsive gambling is a problem for many people and that those with compulsive gambling problems often have co-occurring disorders. Many treatment centers will treat the whole person, delving deeply into the issues behind the gambling, showing the client or patient how to fight off the cravings for gambling. Clients will participate in group and individual counseling sessions, and will likely meet with therapists, case managers and a psychiatrist to determine the extent of the gambling problems and any co-occurring disorders. Medications are sometimes used in compulsive gambling treatment. The Mayo Clinic points out that treating compulsive gambling can be challenging, but with a combination of treatment approaches, a positive outcome is possible.

A person with a gambling addiction can relapse just like a person who completes treatment for substance abuse, so after-care is advisable to help reduce the risk of relapse.

Many treatment centers offer a comprehensive approach to ensure the best possible treatment to help people overcome their addiction to gambling and to help the individual to get back on track, dealing with the poor choices made while engaging in bad behavior.

Find a compulsive gambling treatment center

If you or a loved one needs help, we can help you locate a treatment center near you. We have the largest virtual directory online to help you find the ideal compulsive gambling center to meet your needs. You will not have to fight with the insurance company to determine if they will cover any portion of the treatment for your addiction. We offer a confidential, free insurance benefits check to enable you to get the best compulsive gambling help with the insurance that you have.

[Source: NIH, NIH, NIH, MayoClinic, ScienceDaily, NIH]