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Is Gambling More Addictive Than Drugs?

Published:

Jun 29, 2024

There are similarities between drug use and gambling. You should be aware of them when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. Problem gambling is the term commonly used by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). It's a mental disorder in which you lose control over your gambling.

You become preoccupied with this activity. It causes impulsivity and irrational thinking despite the negative consequences. Alternatively, substance addiction is a disease, in which you can’t stop using drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes. This addiction can cause serious health problems and even death.

Sometimes gambling can be as addicting as drugs, especially when used together. This guide will explain how these addictions are closely linked.

Is gambling more addictive than drugs?

Gambling and drugs overlap in some ways. Both can turn into behavioral-based problems. The individual can’t stop relying on these substances, even if it leads to rock bottom.

However, there are stark differences between gambling and drugs. Gambling is more of a cognitively-based addiction. Problem gamblers base their cognitive distortions and core belief systems on their ability to gamble.

According to a 2017 study in the journal Translational Psychiatry, gambling addiction triggers the same pathways as drugs and alcohol, which makes it as alluring. The connections within the parts of the brain that control these impulses weaken with both substance abuse and problem gambling.

Both addictions leave devastating consequences on the individuals and their families. It can result in people losing their jobs and leaving their loved ones homeless. According to the study, the most problematic forms of gambling are online gambling and sports betting.

In addition, a gambling addict is five times more likely to die via suicide than an alcoholic or a drug addict. While gambling is less harmful to your body, it can still damage your life.

Gambling addicts go through their finances and savings a lot faster. Others might also develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

The Similarities Between Alcohol, Drugs, and Gambling Addiction

Gambling addicts go through periods where they don’t gamble for an extended period. Similar to substance addicts, they experience anxiety, headaches, heart palpitations, and insomnia.

Some struggle with both gambling and alcoholism. Researchers have looked into the similarities between these two addictions. The brain gets triggered and releases dopamine when someone takes a sip of alcohol or when someone gambles.

These addictions sometimes stack onto the other. Casinos offer alcohol, which can lead to gambling addiction and alcoholism co-occurring with one another. Oppositely, people with alcoholism will search for places where they can drink without judgment.

The presence of alcohol in casinos makes it possible for them to drink as much as possible. Most casinos have drinks flowing to patrons.

This could easily lure someone into the world of gambling. With their inhibitions down, they’re more willing to take other substances, which will provide that dopamine hit.

Is gambling as addictive as smoking?

Gambling activates the brain’s reward system, which encourages those dopamine levels. That’s why you feel euphoria when you gamble. It’s the same feeling with addictive drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and nicotine.

Dr. Timothy W. Fong, the clinical professor of Psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Humans at UCLA, revealed how gambling affects the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure.

It connects those feelings to the behavior or substance. Dr. Fong revealed a difference between gambling and substance addiction.

He reiterated the previous point that gambling is associated with cognitive distortions. The gambler desires to win. The same can’t be said for smokers. Their desire to smoke is to escape from stress.

Still, both smoking and gambling have significant health concerns. According to a report via The Guardian, there are parallels between gambling and smoking. Both industries have become intertwined over the years.

Most people who gamble can do so without alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. But gambling itself can become an addiction. It can also lead to substance abuse down the line. All these components involved cause serious psychological and physiological health problems.

Tobacco Control observed the number of gamblers who smoked. In 2008, among 7,633 gamblers, 516 of them were smokers. That led to a result of 20.3% percent.

The percentage of gamblers who smoked was not different from the number of reported Americans who smoked. However, there are limitations and restrictions to cigarettes.

The same can’t be said for gambling. It’s become normalized in society. It’s been difficult for governments to create policies and restrictions that outline the harm associated with gambling.

What percentage of people get addicted to gambling?

The gambling industry caused harm to individuals and communities. The National Council on Problem Gambling discovered that 2.5 million adults in the U.S. fit the criteria for severe problem gambling.

Meanwhile, five to 8 million adults have mild to moderate gambling problems. While they don’t fit the DSM criteria, they are likely to experience problems due to their gambling habits.

This study has also found that most adults who gamble can do so responsibly. Eighty-five percent of adults have gambled at one point in their lives. Gambling is legalized in 48 states, including the District of Columbia.

Hawaii and Utah are the only states without legalized gambling. As you can see, gambling is so widespread with the increased use of gambling apps.

What is the most addictive type of gambling?

Speaking of which, online gambling and slot machines are the most addictive forms of gambling due to their accessibility. This allows people to gamble anytime they want.

They no longer have to visit a casino. This form of gambling also allows them to hide their problem gambling from others.

Slot machines were once known as the “crack cocaine” of gambling. This game is played in a high-paced format, leading to a cycle of chasing losses, a common sign of gambling addiction.

A person could sit at the same machine for hours, not realizing what’s happening around them. They enter a into “dark flow” state, losing money, and dealing with the negative fallout.

If you have experienced the consequences of your gambling, help is available. The hardest part is to admit you have a problem. But with the right support, you can recover.

If you or someone you know struggles with a gambling or substance use problem, book an appointment with Birches Health. Our service is complimentary and confidential.

Sources

Gambling addiction triggers the same brain areas as drug and alcohol cravings

Problem gamblers have highest suicide rate among addicts, studies show

The parallels between tobacco and gambling are striking, so why are we ignoring the lessons of the past?

Gambling addiction can cause psychological, and physiological health challenges

Electronic gaming machines: are they the 'crack-cocaine' of gambling?

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