Gambling Reflection Papers

These gamblers have been responsible and moral in there early lives but are conflict avoiders and have often times suffered from some form of verbal or physical abuse. And now have a desperate need for empowerment and gain it in there escape gambling. These individuals usually poses low self-esteem, and become manipulative as the problem develops. The problem gambler has a far higher probability of long-term cure through abstinence unlike the action gambler these people usually peruse help within 6 months to 3 years of the problems inception.”(Diamond 2001 p.3)

Twenty-one is the premier age an individual turns in order to try first hand at gambling in the United States, unless eighteen and on vacation on a cruise ship. Gambling brings suspense, excitement, enjoyment and most of all, money, to those who participate. Although the excitement of hitting “blackjack,” wears off after the weeks following a twenty-first birthday, the downside can last a life time. Gambling has become an overnight sensation and continues to grow throughout the United States and around the world. The addicting highs of gambling have consumed numerous individuals towards downward spirals and tribulations. Some researchers, and psychologists, suggest that gambling is a victimless crime, however,

This study was done on 150 people seeking treatment for drug problems, and found that 32 of the participants were pathological gamblers, 19 were problem gamblers, and the remaining 96 were social gamblers. Among the studied pathological gamblers, 56.3% were seeking treatment for cocaine use, and 25% were seeking treatment for alcohol. One of the prevalent findings in this study was the rate of suicidal thoughts or actions; 26 out of the 32 pathological gamblers (81.3%) had reported serious thoughts of suicide, and 12 (37.5%) had actually attempted suicide at least once. It was also found that, on average, most of the pathological gamblers started gambling before they started using

Data also indicates high levels of suicidality, with 25% of pathological gamblers in England reporting a suicide attempt in their lifetime, and 20% describing past-year ideation [4]. Adverse consequences extend beyond the individual, and include impacts on families through debt, relationship dysfunction [9] and domestic violence (DV). A recent evidence synthesis [10] suggests 37% of pathological gamblers report DV perpetration (38% report victimisation), and rates of gambling disorders in perpetrator samples that are also high (11%). In the UK, gambling problems predict overuse of NHS services including primary care (2-fold increase relative to no problems), hospital inpatient care (5-fold increase), and psychological counselling (8-fold increase) [4]. Notwithstanding these public health impacts, and overrepresentation in health care services, there is limited awareness of gambling problems and low levels of identification in these contexts. In the context of increased gambling participation and public health consequences [11], [12], there is strong need for initiatives to minimise excessive gambling and related harms. These initiatives include provision of psychological treatments with demonstrated efficacy

“The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted a study before the first Maryland casino opened in 2010, and published it in 2011. They found that nearly 90 percent of Marylanders had gambled, and that 3.4 percent were either pathological gamblers or problem gamblers.” (Massimo) There has been numerous stories of addicted gamblers in debt, gamblers that have lost family and friends from their addictions. There was a man $400,000 in debt, his wife threw him out of the house and told him he could not see his kids again unless he gave up gambling. Also, another gambler went on a 48 hour binge without sleeping and barely eating. A woman faced a jail term for stealing $135,000 to feed her gambling

Gambling is seen as a psychological problem affecting millions of Americans across the country. It is estimated that 20 million Americans have or could develop gambling problems, and about half of these are young adults. Gambling is sometimes connected to spouse and child abuse, bankruptcy, mental breakdowns, substance abuse, theft, divorce, and suicide. It is estimated that people are twice as likely to be a problem or pathological gambler if a casino is within 50 miles of their home. Citizens will also experience alcohol-related problems, as the casinos will be permitted to sell or provide complimentary alcoholic beverages during all hours that they operate (Amend. 5, Sect. 10E).

In 2011, Nady el-Guebaly, Tanya Mudry, Joseph Zohar, Hermano Tavares, and Marc Potenza aimed to use DSM-V to describe an emerging focus on addiction and compulsion factors in the research of pathological gambling (PG). They examined the possible overlying of addiction and compulsivity relative to PG, substance use disorders (SUDs), and obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), and treatment suggestions. To collect data, they conducted a meticulous literature review of existing evidence for the recommended reclassification of pathological gambling as an addiction. From their results, it was concluded that PG is more like SUDs than OCD. Also, although addictions and OCD share certain similarities, they are neurobiologically different, have lower comorbidity frequencies, and responds differently to treatments. Regarding recognized behavioral addictions, pathological gambling seems to be the only disorder with sufficient evidence for it to be progressed into classifying as an

Relating to the issue of subgroups, pathological gambling was originally classified as an impulse control disorder by the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000), though, based on its criteria similar to substance dependence, some researchers preferred to consider it a behavioural addiction (Blanco et al., 2001; Potenza et al., 2002). Goudriaan et al. (2006) provide a similar argument, stating that pathological gambling and alcohol dependence share common EF deficits, and it has since been amended to be a behavioural addiction the in the DSM-V (APA, 2013). The divisive topic of screening and diagnosis could have serious consequences on the quality of care, or form of therapy, a pathological gambler may receive or decide to enter. Whether they legitimately

In 2013, the release of the updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) added gambling disorder to the category titled Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2013) In the previous edition of the DSM, gambling, along with other behavioral addictions were in the Impulse Control Disorders category of the DSM-III and DSM-IV (Clark, 2014). Behavioral Addictions are said to be around for hundreds of years. For example, gambling was part of daily life in ancient Greece. (Hekster, 2002). In the first edition of American Psychiatric Association in 1812, there was detailed mention of excessive sexual desire (Rush, 1812). Yet, behavioral

“Pathological gambling is excessive risk taking exaggerated to an especially destructive extreme.” This is the way Dr. Ted and Brad Klontz open their chapter on the destructive behavior that is gambling (Klontz, B., & Klontz, T, 2009). As the authors describe gambling is a habit that becomes like a drug as people, mostly men, continue to gamble to make themselves feel better about themselves or to escape their present reality. The biggest danger of this disorder is that it is one that people try to hide from others the most, and are very hesitant to admit that their gambling is an addiction.

RCP literature also cites that persons who are depressed, anxious and/or have bipolar affective disorder are also more likely to become gamblers. Chrysalis highlights

There are many reasons as to why there are such varying results in the current body of research surrounding the notion of a relationship between problem gambling and personality traits. One of the reasons explored in some papers, is the fact that there are possible subtypes of problem gamblers, with each subtype producing different results in personality tests, showing that there are further differences within the population of individuals with gambling issues (MacLaren, Best, Dixon, & Harrigan, 2011; Myrseth, Pallesen, Molde, Johnsen, & Lorvik, 2009). The differences in the results of the subgroups indicate that it may not be feasible to generalise problem gambling and certain personality traits (MacLaren, Best, Dixon, & Harrigan, 2011).

Gambling is an entertainment that we all know about, and it is also well known by the “easy-addicted characteristic”. You must have seen or at least heard about some stories that is about gambling. No matter it’s a story about people become rich, or a family be ruined. “The National Council on

     Gambling addiction is an issue found in numerous areas where gambling is legal. People who are addicted to gambling, also know as problem gamblers, face many health risks including depression, suicidal thoughts, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, migraine and anxiety in addition to marriage breakdown, problems at work and bankruptcy (9). About 2 percent of adults are thought to be problem gamblers (1). In today’s society this costly addiction is not often considered to be a common problem among those who gamble. Only a small amount of states in the U.S. give enough attention toward this rising problem of people that are sometimes even willing to commit crimes just to aid their addiction. In the past our

There are several concerns regarding the ethics of gambling whether in an online setting or in a public setting. Gambling has many benefits for both gamblers and casinos, but it’s crucial to acknowledge the psychological repercussions of gambling as it isn’t always just “harmless fun.” We can consider the negative and positive implications of gambling on non-gamblers as well. However, how would ethical theories and perspectives differ in their approach to the effects of gambling? When people think of gambling, they usually see flashing Vegas casinos and large sums of cash. The gambling arena is much larger just as the significance of the effects gambling has on the casinos and people involved. Gambling addiction is a very prevalent factor