(no subject)

[novapsyche]

Gambling and Alcoholism May Have Different Roots -- a pretty well-balanced article

Comments

[xterminal.livejournal.com]

Well, duh-- could it be because alcohol is an addiction and gambling is a compulsion? Completely different things that have been gerrymandered into the same category by know-nothing legislators and self-help authors...

[guttaperk.livejournal.com]

No, they can both be called addictions. But just because they are both addictions doesn't mean that they are identical.

[xterminal.livejournal.com]

No, they can both be called addictions.

I disagree.

[guttaperk.livejournal.com]

That's certainly your prerogative.

What I'll say is this: there are standard definitions of addictive behavior, and problem gambling can exhibit those patterns (though it doesn't always do so).

Just like problem drug use can exhibit those patterns (though it doesn't always do so).

Feel free, however, to use whatever definitions suit you.

cheers

adrian.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Addiction has its elements of obsession and compulsion as well. In fact, I would say that the primary symptom of addiction--craving--leads to compulsive behavior.

[xterminal.livejournal.com]

there are standard definitions of addictive behavior,

...which have changed radically-- and dangerously-- in the past twenty years.

and problem gambling can exhibit those patterns

This is the same error made by those with their hearts in the right place and the scary lack of knowledge.

Patterns are not causes, they're symptoms. Two disorders with completely different underlying causes can exhibit the same surface symptoms. However, a course of treatment that may be effective for one of the disorders may do nothing for the other. On the physical level, think about arthritis and the early stages of bone cancer-- I have this particular instance in mind because a co-worker of my wife's had a doctor messing this diagnosis up for the last six months based on the symptoms, and the guy now has less than a year to live. If you treat a cancer patient with arthritis drugs, what's the result? Metastasized cancer, because you weren't treating the patient for cancer.

Alcohol addition is physical. Compulsive gambling is psychological. Two vastly different treatment vectors. Attempting to treat both the same way will harm, not help.

I wasn't planning to get into all that, but well.

[xterminal.livejournal.com]

See above response.

[dionysus1999.livejournal.com]

Treatment modalities would be a bit different, but there would be a lot of overlap. Avoidance of places where you drink/gamble, support groups, replacement behaviors, not hanging out with other gamblers/drinkers, etc.