Gambling Addiction: A Psychological And Social Problem
When we talk about addictions, we tend to assume that we are referring to dependence on a legal or illegal drug: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, the constant use of opiates, etc.
However, one of the most common addiction disorders today does not involve the use of any product that enters our circulatory system and then passes to the brain. It is a behavioral addiction and, consequently, is based solely on a habit, that is, a set of actions defined by the interaction with the environment, and not by what enters the body. It is pathological gambling also known as pathological gambling or gambling addiction.
Anyone who believes that we can only develop addictions by introducing molecules that interact with our neurons into our body is wrong. Gambling addiction is an example that we are capable of developing dependence disorders only by engaging in certain habits for a certain number of times.
And it is that Gambling addiction is a full-fledged addiction; It is not only in a metaphorical sense It already appears in the main diagnostic manuals used by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. It is part of non-substance addictions, which although they have characteristics that distinguish them from drug addiction, are also capable of generating serious health problems and causing significant physical wear and tear.
Among its effects and symptoms we find the appearance of anxiety peaks when one has not played for a long time, the appearance of impulses that lead to putting one’s personal and work life at risk in order to continue gambling, the feeling of loss of control (feeling the need to continue gambling, even if only to recover lost money), and the rapid deterioration of personal and family relationships, as well as greater exposure to poverty.
Besides, you feel the need to bet larger and larger amounts of money , even if that means getting into debt. This is a dynamic that can be seen in all addictions: you need to get more and more involved in order to be “satisfied” and relieve the tension caused by spending a few hours without engaging in the addictive behavior.
On the other hand, people who develop any type of addiction are more likely to develop another, so in psychotherapy and psychiatry consultations it is very common to find people with a tendency toward gambling and alcoholism, opioid addiction, etc
Based on data from the General Directorate of Gambling Regulation, an entity linked to the Ministry of Finance, it is currently estimated that the prevalence in Spain of pathological gambling throughout life (that is, the percentage of inhabitants of Spain who develop this type of addiction at some point in your life) is approximately 1 in 100 people while 0.3% have developed it in the last year.
Characteristics that make gambling a danger
These are several of the characteristics of gambling addiction that make it a serious danger for both the person and their immediate environment.
1. It mainly affects the vulnerable classes
The idea that betting houses proliferate especially in working-class neighborhoods with a large number of neighbors in vulnerable situations is not new.
In fact, a study carried out in the 90s with a sample of more than 1,600 people living in Galicia suggested that approximately 43% of those affected by pathological gambling did not have any income, since they were unemployed, students or housewives.
Today This tendency of gambling addiction to affect the lower-middle classes is still there , although it is no longer concentrated on people without stable employment. According to the study by the General Directorate of Gambling Regulation mentioned above, the portion of the Spanish population most affected by pathological gambling is made up of men who work and whose family unit has an income of between 900 and 1,500 euros.
Beyond the exceptional large casinos strategically located in tourist areas, medium-sized betting houses appear above all in places where there are the greatest number of people exposed to poverty, as reported by several Spanish neighborhood entities.
For example, an article in El Español recently drew attention to the fact that between the Ciudad Lineal and Quintana metro stops, in one of the humble parts of Madrid, there is a betting shop for every 10 numbers of portal, approximately.
The hope of being able to make a lot of money at once contributes to the worsening of many people who already have few economic resources and they go into debt. This also affects their families, especially if the person gambles on assets such as the car, the house, etc.
2. Enjoy a very normalized market
The betting house market is in fashion. Their marketing campaigns are omnipresent in the world of football, for example, and they advertise widely on the Internet, even counting on the support of well-known faces both on television and in YouTube videos.
This normalization in media that is seen by many young people means that people begin to experiment with betting at a very young age.
Since betting websites have become popular, Anyone can decide to start betting and be doing so in a matter of minutes from the privacy of your home, without exposing yourself to the prying eyes of friends and neighbors. This has become a gateway for new players, and demographic profiles that would not typically gamble.
4. The illusion of being able to earn a lot of money
Gambling addiction is based on cognitive distortions that lead us to think that gambling is better than not. The truth is that, mathematically, there are many more chances of losing a lot of money than of winning a fairly high amount, comparable to what was spent. However, the idea of ​​tempting luck and making an instant fortune It has such a powerful emotional charge that it manages to capture our attention make us think about that possibility beyond rationality.
To do?
Many psychologists specialized in psychological assistance for patients are trained to help both people with gambling addiction and other types of addictions.
Recovery requires commitment, perseverance and effort, but With the support of a professional it is much easier and the success rate is higher Because in therapy sessions we create the necessary changes, both in the way of thinking and in the way of interacting with the environment, to leave pathological gambling behind.
