Gambling addiction in children and adolescents

Compulsory treatment of gambling addiction is a complex issue that needs to be considered from different angles. On the one hand, it has been proven that it is impossible to force a person to stop gambling: sooner or later he will return to a dangerous hobby. At the same time, according to our data, in 2020, over 28 thousand people sought help in treatment for gambling addiction in our country, more than half of whom were relatives of gambling addicts. Although in reality there are many more game addicts.

This means that many people simply do not seek professional help, although this is the only option to cope with the disease and become happy. Our research proves that after completing a course of therapy at the National Narcological Service, the chances of finally getting rid of the pathological craving for gambling increase by 75%!

That is, the main thing is to take the first step, but this is precisely where difficulties arise, which forced treatment of gambling addicts can overcome. What is meant by this concept, how should relatives of an addicted person act, and what should they do if no arguments work? Let's try to answer these and other important questions right now.

How to help a gambling addict get out of a critical situation?

To avoid forced treatment of gambling addiction, relatives of the addict should adhere to the following recommendations:

be honest about the fact that you are concerned about his passion for the game;
provide support in finding a doctor and clinic;
firmly adhere to the position that you need to see a doctor;
give up all kinds of gambling yourself (cards, machines, online casinos, lotteries);
give him the opportunity to be responsible for his actions and decisions (not to be a nanny);
keep the promises made to him;
take a strong negative position regarding games;
objectively assess his condition;
help make an appointment and provide support before, during and after treatment.

But what you definitely shouldn’t do is constantly reproach him, give money for bets and games, limit the choice of therapy, hide your dissatisfaction with his lifestyle and justify bad actions.

How much does a child need to play to be considered computer addicted?

If you've read the article on computer addiction, you know that the amount of time a child spends playing video games is not always a good guide. The signs of computer addiction in children and adults are no different, but can manifest themselves in different ways.

The more a child or teen plays, the more likely they are to play too much. The extreme cases of video game addiction in children are clear, with some spending more than 60 hours a week playing video games.

Given the possibility of restrictions on computer use, computer addiction in children and adolescents will be indicated not by how much time they spend playing games, but by how important computer games are to them.

Parents usually become concerned when a child starts playing 15 to 30 hours a week. It is addiction?

Find out how playing video games affects other areas of a young person's life.

Is your studies suffering? How often are conflicts with parents on this basis? Is it common for a teenager to be lazy and refuse to fulfill their parents’ requests? Neglects household responsibilities? Does he sleep well? Shows interest in other activities or hobbies? What about real friends who aren't gamers?

The influence of computer games on academic performance

The assumption that computer games have a negative impact on academic success has not been confirmed. Research has found no relationship between periodic play sessions and visible changes in children's academic performance.

However, in children with computer addiction, decline in academic performance is almost always associated with excessive gaming.

Why is it so difficult to convince a loved one to get treatment for gambling addiction?

When figuring out whether it is possible to forcibly treat a gambling addict, family members need to be prepared for his resistance and the failure of the first (and sometimes all subsequent) attempts to obtain his consent to therapy. Key reasons for failure:

the desire to believe the promises of the addict;
regular excuses from going to the doctor;
unwillingness to accept the fact of illness of the closest person;
inability to find the right words;
conversations escalate into quarrels and scandals;
the patient’s threats to leave home, complete refusal to communicate with relatives;
inability to appreciate the scale of the problem and lack of medical knowledge.

Treatment of computer addiction in children and adolescents

Proper treatment of computer addiction in children and adolescents begins with finding the true motives that make them give priority to virtual reality.

To rid a child of computer addiction, you need to change his lifestyle: form new habits, get rid of old ones and properly carry out preventive measures so that the situation does not repeat in the future.

The reasons are eliminated and moderation is introduced on the use of computers and other gadgets. A new culture of using modern devices is being formed.

When dealing with computer addiction among teenagers, we work with parents who themselves choose the method of their child’s transformation. We do not support drug treatment.

CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM?

Computer addiction test

Training parents to correct computer addiction

Possible options for a gambler to protect his addiction

Among themselves, all gamers are divided into two groups: those who are not aware of the addiction to games, and people who understand the fact of addiction, but come up with various excuses. The need for compulsory treatment from games arises when no persuasion works: the patient simply does not hear you or does not want to hear you, using any methods to postpone or even cancel a visit to the clinic. Typical examples of how gambling addicts justify their illness include:

I have a hard job, I’m very tired, I need to relax;
There’s so much going on today, I want to relieve stress;
there are so many problems in life (my wife left me, my child doesn’t understand, I lost my job, I crashed my car, etc.);
What’s wrong with one rate after work, I’m not an addict;
others play much more;
Lately I have started playing much less/reduced my bet;
I'm so lonely;
the game helps to cope with physical pain - a common trick for those who have chronic illnesses and injuries;
the game promotes inspiration and reveals creative potential;
what's wrong with making a couple of bets in good company;
everyone around is playing, why can’t I.

This is just a small list of arguments. In fact, addicted people are extremely creative, and some of them are ashamed of their addiction, while some, on the contrary, flaunt it. Compulsory treatment of gambling addicts makes it possible to stop the endless coming up of “excuses” and force a person to take a decisive action, namely, undergo a full course of therapy and psychological rehabilitation.

Don't know how to persuade your loved one to undergo treatment?

Call and we will help you 8 (800) 551-51-88 (anonymous and 24-hour hotline)

Symptoms of gambling addiction

Gambling addiction manifests itself in different ways. It is sometimes very difficult to identify a gambling addict; he often indulges in his addiction in secret from everyone. Some people were able to hide their addiction for several years.

Manifestations of gambling addiction are divided into four groups:

Mental symptoms. The person experiences extreme stress, is depressed, and may have thoughts of suicide.
Physical manifestations of gambling addicts can be different, but first of all these are various vegetative disorders. The patient experiences sleep problems and eating disorders occur.
Social problems. Gambling addiction, like drug addiction and alcoholism, invariably leads to a loss of social skills. The gambling addict gradually loses friends, destroys family ties, which leads to social isolation.
Financial difficulties. The gambling addict constantly borrows money, but does not repay the debts.

If you are related

If you or someone you know has an increased interest in gambling, constantly talks about his winnings and asks to borrow money, then there is a high probability that he is developing gambling addiction.

There is another manifestation of gambling addiction that is common to almost all gambling addicts: they constantly lie about their whereabouts. Addicted people will never say that they were in a casino: in this way they want to hide their problems from others.

Effective ways to motivate

There is no universal method for persuading a person to go to a clinic and undergo a rehabilitation course. Faced with the fact that a husband/wife/child/brother/sister, etc. compulsory treatment of gambling addiction is required, relatives will have to try different methods. Some people will be influenced by the description of the problems that come with regular addiction to betting; for others, recording inappropriate behavior in a state of loss will be an excellent incentive, while others will be influenced by communication with those who have become completely drunk and have intellectually degraded due to the inability to stop in time.

At the initial stage, as a rule, a simple conversation and a reminder about the unfulfilled promise not to play is enough, but if the problem is long-standing, then you cannot do without communicating with a psychologist. The doctor will be able to determine the motivator that will give the desired result for a particular patient, taking into account his age, character, temperament, medical history and past experience in dealing with addiction to games.

Stages of development of gambling addiction

R. Custer (1984) identified three stages in the development of gambling addiction:

winning stage;
stage of losses
stage of disappointment.

The winning stage is represented by the following features: random play, frequent winnings, imagination precedes and accompanies the game, more frequent instances of playing, increasing the size of bets, fantasies about the game, very large winnings, unreasonable optimism.

The losing stage is characterized by: playing alone, bragging about winnings, thinking only about the game, protracted episodes of losing, inability to stop gambling, lying and hiding your problem from friends, reducing care for your family or spouse, reducing working time in favor of gambling, refusal to pay debts , personality changes - irritability, fatigue, unsociability, difficult emotional situation at home, borrowing money to gamble, very large debts created by both legal and illegal means, inability to pay debts, desperate attempts to stop gambling.

Signs of the disillusionment stage include: loss of professional and personal reputation, significant increase in time spent gambling and size of bets, withdrawal from family and friends, remorse, remorse, hatred of others, panic, illegal activities, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and attempts, arrest, divorce, alcohol abuse, emotional disturbances, withdrawal.

How to send a gambling addict for compulsory treatment

Current Russian legislation gives a negative answer to the question of whether it is possible to be subject to forced treatment for gambling addiction. The exception is when such a decision is made by a judicial body, but in order to achieve it, you need to spend a lot of time and effort, and outsiders may find out about the tragedy in your family. Agree, there is little pleasure in listening to unpleasant comments from neighbors and talking about the situation at home in the courtroom. Fortunately, there is an alternative option - forced hospitalization of a gambling addict with prior obtaining situational consent as part of a motivational conversation with experienced psychologists (intervention). The procedure takes place in several stages:

A relative calls us and reports the need for compulsory treatment for a gambling addict.
After all the details are clarified, a team of professional psychologists arrives at the specified address.
Specialists communicate with the patient, determine his psychotype and find arguments that will help him realize the need for therapy. Also, as part of communication, doctors relieve the addict from fears associated with staying in a hospital and provide answers to questions regarding recovery methods.
Having achieved consent, the gambling addict is immediately transported to one of our rehabilitation centers, where he is guaranteed to stay under round-the-clock medical supervision, communicate with like-minded people and comfortable living conditions.

In conclusion, we note that compulsory treatment for gambling addiction in some situations is the only correct solution, but we are not talking about physical, but about psychological effects. If you cannot motivate a person to sign up for a consultation with a psychologist on your own, you should think about conducting an intervention. Regardless of the current situation, you can consult with us on how best to proceed if a family member often plays and this is a problem for you - just call 8 (800) 551-51-88. Remember that without complex therapy you cannot count on a long-term effect, and the life and health of a loved one is in your hands.

Why are computer games so popular among children and teenagers?

Video games satisfy the natural needs of children and adolescents.

A computer game is a product that is created for a specific audience, whose representatives have their own tastes and preferences. It is impossible to make a product that suits everyone. What attracts one person may be boring to another.

Now this is not a problem.

Although it is impossible to find a computer game that everyone will like, everyone can find a game that they like.

The computer games market is huge, and there is plenty to choose from.

Children of past generations played Cossack robbers, dodgeball, freezing, hide and seek and just war games. Today, children are fascinated by the possibilities of modern realistic shooters like Call of Duty, Battlefield, Counter Strike or the cartoonish Overwatch.

Kids who enjoy sports are more likely to live out their dreams of playing virtual FIFA or NBA. Fans of cars and speed will not be able to resist the NFS or Forza series.

Teens interested in fantasy and exploration are more likely to get into World of Warcraft than read Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.

Kids who used to build with Legos can realize their ideas in Minecraft with much less effort.

And so it is in everything.

Online games, social connections and the attractiveness of the virtual world

The online components of modern video games not only expand the player's capabilities. It is multiplayer computer games of any genre that are more likely to cause computer addiction in children and adolescents.

During the first video game boom of the 1980s, they were made primarily for one player. The game required a gradual increase in concentration, alertness and hand-eye coordination combined with getting the highest score (think Super Mario, Snake or Tetris).

Even then, some people became obsessed with numbers (scores), but people started talking seriously about the addiction of children or teenagers to computer games in the early 2000s, which coincided with the advent of online games.

Video games are no longer just fun for one person. Players themselves have become an integral part of highly detailed, continuously evolving, “living” virtual worlds. Gamers create their own unique characters, form alliances with other players, trade, and create their own gaming goals.

Some people like these virtual worlds more than real life. Online universes have become more than just games - they are now closer to real society with cities, currencies, classes, shops and services, stories and mythologies, and even law enforcement.

Classification

Gambling addiction has several stages:

the winning phase is the initial stage of progression, symptoms can be limited only to dreams of easy enrichment, but the amount of time and money spent on games gradually increases;
loss phase - personality changes develop, problems arise with work and communication with other people;
phase of despondency - worsening mental disorders and the appearance of health problems;
hopelessness phase - complications develop, in particular suicide attempts.

There is a so-called vicious circle, that is, a game cycle through which a person suffering from the disorder moves. Includes the following phases:

abstinence - refusal to play occurs under pressure from loved ones: the success of treatment and prevention of gambling addiction largely depends on relatives;
automatic fantasies;
increase in emotional tension;
decision making - planning a supposedly win-win strategy;
repression - a feeling of false control over the situation;
implementation - there is a distortion of the real picture of what is happening.

Betting not only in the bookmaker's office, but also in life

You can aggravate your own situation by playing unsuccessfully against a bookmaker, but even worse is dragging bets from the office into real life. If you involve friends and acquaintances in bets, for example, you bet for 1000 rubles on who will be the first to invite a new office employee on a date, then you can no longer live without “betting on money,” which means that soon you will lose all perception of the value of money and the value of life without monetary interest.

Family problems due to sports betting

Sports betting, especially if it only brings losses, is a serious threat to family well-being. If loved ones sense a problem and are against sports betting, then this will only worsen the game at the bookmaker. There often comes a time when a bookmaker's client must choose between family and sports betting, and if he does not choose the former easily, then things are very serious.

Diagnostics

The correct diagnosis is established based on a conversation with the patient, his relatives and friends. In most situations, the psychiatrist receives basic information from loved ones, since the gambling addict himself may hide some facts or downplay the significance of the problem.

The diagnostic process includes the following manipulations:

collection and analysis of life history;
assessment of appearance;
measuring heart rate and blood pressure;
clarification of the first time of occurrence and intensity of clinical manifestations, which will indicate to the doctor the phase of the disease and the severity of the general condition.

For the most part, diagnosis is aimed at identifying the sources of addiction, since without registering the cause, it is not possible to recover from addiction.

Causes

Scientists have concluded that the occurrence of addiction is influenced by a number of reasons
:

Possible complications

If you do not get rid of gambling addiction, the chances of developing the following complications are high:

decreased social activity;
learning disabilities;
job loss;
having debts and loss of control over finances;
conflicts in the family;
neuroses;
depression;
neurasthenia;
obsession;
problems with the digestive and cardiovascular systems - hypertension, gastritis, ulcers, cholecystitis, pancreatitis;
suicide.

What do the statistics say?

According to international statistics, the countries that are most prosperous in terms of freedom from gambling addiction have less than 0.5% of the population with this problem. In the countries that are most gambling addicted by national scale, the percentage of gambling addicts reaches 7% of the total adult population.

Thus, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, Switzerland and Sweden have from 1% to 1.5% of gambling addicts. In America this figure reaches 3.5%. In the CIS countries, we can talk about 1.5%-3% of gambling addicts, but only according to official data.