A Look at Gambling Addiction
In the last 10 years, it seems as if the casinos are cropping up in every city and town and the opportunities to gamble are growing. From lotteries to off-track betting and Indian casinos, gambling has become an integral part of local communities. That could be considered a good thing or a bad thing.
While these gambling establishments can bring much-needed revenue into a community, there are perils that come along with local gambling. The major problem is gambling addiction.
For many people, the idea of being addicted to gambling may seem strange. A common form of entertainment in many communities, people often treat local casinos as they would dinner and a movie on Friday night. They don’t hesitate to spend $40.00 for dinner and some slot machine entertainment. But at the end of the night, they walk away and talk about what a good time they had.
The thought of becoming addicted to gambling seems absurd for these people. It’s nothing more than a few hours of fun – a different way to spend some free time. There’s no way they could ever become a compulsive gambler.
Gambling addiction, however, is a very real problem. The symptoms are similar to other forms of addiction. And like other compulsions, we don’t often know who will become addicted until it’s too late.
What’s the similarity between pathological gambling and chemical dependency?
Recent findings would indicate that pathological gambling is a dependency quite similar to a chemical dependency. A study by a psychiatrist Alec Roy, M.D. formerly of the NIAAA showed that compulsive gamblers have low levels of norepinephrine compared to normal gamblers.
The chemical is secreted from the brain when stressed, aroused or excited. A pathological gambler engages in his addiction to raise the levels of norepinephrine.
The findings reinforce the assertion of Dr. Henry Lesieur that pathological gamblers are “thrill seekers” who gamble for the excitement brought about by the game and not the pursuit of money.
Like chemical dependency, gamblers find it difficult to stop or control the addiction. At first they deny their problem, often making excuses: “I can stop any time I want.” Depression is also a symptom of addiction and may appear when compulsive gamblers aren’t able to indulge in their preferred behavior.
Addiction is a disease that is progressive. No matter the focus, addicts go through similar stages of dependency.
The first stage involves looking for a high – or in the case of a gambler, the big win. This stage can be thought of as the “chase.” Addicts often look for some outward solution for an inward problem. An alcoholic might self-medicate to help deal with problems of low self-esteem. Chronic gamblers are the same, except they are looking for immediate gratification from their activity.
As the disease progresses, addicts become so involved, they think of nothing other than fulfilling their needs.
One major difference between addiction to gambling and addiction to drugs or alcohol is that gambling addiction is not immediately recognizable. There are many physical indications a person may be dependent on alcohol or drugs, including an inability to function in a normal day-to-day way. A gambler can function very well, or at least pull off the appearance of high-functioning, for a long period of time before becoming noticeable.
The signs for gambling addiction are more subtle. Like an alcoholic, they may not function well at work, missing days or appearing distracted. More common is the large debt that a gambler can incur in a relatively short period of time.
Games that provide instant gratification, such as slot and video machines, tend to lure gamblers further into their addiction. Gamblers seek immediate fulfillment of their needs and these games use powerful positive reinforcement. This makes the descent into addiction stronger and faster.
In the past, it would often take many years to see someone become addicted to gambling. Lotteries, card games, and track betting are all slower games that don’t provide the same instant gratification. A gambler involved in these types of betting might take years to display symptoms of addiction.
The proliferation of local casinos with fast action games has lead to a rise in compulsive gambling. It’s fairly common for a person to become addicted to slot machines or video poker games within a few short years.
