Overcoming Addiction
	Gambling Addiction <  Previous Contents Next  >

Gambling is defined as an addiction which causes damage and harm to the gambler and others. This term is recognized as problem gambling or pathological gambling, which as some experts believe, even borders on mental illness.

Pathological gambling is characterized by each of these following attributes:

• Lying. The gambler tries to hide this addiction by lying to his friends, family and loved ones.

• Withdrawal. Just as with drugs, alcohol and cigarette addictions, behavioral patterns such as irritability, uneasiness and discomfort surface when the addict suddenly ceases to gamble.

• Escape. In many cases, gambling is a form of escape from the realities of life.

• Need for excitement. The most important attribute of gambling – the gamble wagers more than he can handle so that he can feel the adrenaline pumping.

• Loss of control. The gambler loses his control and keeps on gambling despite his willingness to stop.

• Acts that are illegal. When families, friends fail to support the gambler, he then may resort to illegal acts such as embezzlement, robbery or thievery.

Some say that there is a biological basis to gambling, and that a gambling addiction is quite similar to chemical addiction in that pathological gamblers have lower hormonal levels on norepinephrine than normal gamblers, who are not addicted.

Norepinephrine is a hormone which is secreted under stress, excitement and thrill so what gamblers do is they gamble to bring that hormone level up. There have also been studies that show that gamblers who lack the hormone serotonin also give in to this temptation.

Pathological gambling is also similar to other kinds of compulsive behaviors such as being pyromaniac, and kleptomaniac. It may be related to other disorders such as schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder. And there are similarities among these compulsive behaviors as to their cause – usually abuse in the home, and other personal relationships. When there is abuse, it can lead to compulsive behaviors such as gambling.

Treating the Gambling Addiction

There is hope for people who indulge in this form of addiction. It can be counteracted by drugs such as SSRI paroxetine and an antagonist drug called nalmefene, which has been quite effective in curing the gambling addiction.

But there are also other treatments which don’t involve drugs. Counseling is one, delivered by professional counselors, social workers or psychologists. There are also other forms of treatment such as a step by step program, and among the famous ones is Gamblers Anonymous, which places much importance on peer and support groups.