preview

Gambling Disorder And Its Effects On Society

Decent Essays

Gambling disorder involves the urge to gamble continuously despite financial and social consequences or a desire to stop. It is seen as being out of control and dominating the person’s life. It is important to note that most gambling is not associated with a mental disorder as it is often a form of recreation in many cultures around the world. “Gambling can be defined as placing something of value at risk in the hopes of gaining something of greater value” (Potenza, 2008). Pathological gambling affects approximately between 0.1 percent and 2 percent of the population (Petry, 2016).
Pathological gambling is listed in the DSM-5 chapter entitled “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders”. However, it differs from substance use disorders because those involve the brain experiencing repeated exposure to toxic chemicals as well as the experience of the physiological mechanisms of tolerance and withdrawal. As gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction, toxic chemicals and their effect on tolerance and withdrawal do not really apply. Gambling disorder is the first disorder to be included as a non-substance behavioral addiction in the DSM-5. Since 1980, pathological gambling, now called gambling disorder, has been included in the DSM, though it was previously classified as an “Impulse Control Disorder Not Otherwise Specified” (Petry, 2016). Now it has been classified with the substance use disorders because of their similar symptoms such as preoccupation with gambling and

Get Access