Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.
In many countries, gambling is legal and associated with some economic benefits, albeit to a small percentage of the population. Gambling has become problematic, mainly with the growth of the technology that made it accessible to almost anyone with Internet-enabled devices. This activity is evidenced in communities as many people spend most of their time on smartphones placing bets on multiple sites. As a result, pathological gambling is now recognized as a mental disorder. For it to be considered a mental disorder, experts noted that gambling activates the same reward circuits in the brain as drugs, including tolerance or withdrawal syndrome (Chóliz et al., 2021). Gambling is also regarded as a public health issue because the activities are supported by law and promoted in general media.
Gambling is a pastime activity for many individuals associated with the release of dopamine. As a neurotransmitter, dopamine enhances motivation to seek the rewards derived from gambling, and continued exposure could lead to addiction. In 2016, at least 340,000 people in the UK were identified as problem gamblers (Twumasi & Shergill, 2020). There is a likelihood that the number has increased due to the growing popularity of betting sites in the country. The football teams, televisions, celebrities, and social media also aggressively market gambling companies. As a result, in 2019, the gamblers in the UK collectively lost about £14.4 billion (Twumasi & Shergill, 2020). Such a loss is possible considering the huge number of gambling companies operating in the country. The UK Gambling Commission has offered over 3,600 licenses to 2,600 online gambling companies ( Gambling statistics, 2021). Therefore, the citizens have a wide array of options to gamble.
Problem gambling is characterized by the desire to take huge and unnecessary risks. Problematic gamblers stake a tremendous amount of money to meet the desired excitement, become irritable when attempting to reduce gambling, has made multiple unsuccessful tries to stop the habit, chases losses, and lies about this behavior (Ferrara et al., 2018). People addicted to gambling often jeopardize relationships they have with families and friends by engaging in harmful activities. For instance, some people borrow or commit crimes to get cash for betting. The article identifies such cases of theft involving teenagers who steal identities to gamble online (Twumasi & Shergill, 2020). Problematic gambling is also linked to an increased hospitalization rate, creating a need to address this health challenge.
As a developing counselor, the findings from the article have several implications. The report demonstrates the heightened risk associated with gambling at the community level. First, this problem should be addressed through policy changes, where gambling activities could be limited. For instance, I suggest that sports teams should not be sponsored by gambling firms or betting adverts should only be aired on television at night. Secondly, modern and sophisticated technology can identify problematic patterns based on gambling frequency and the amount lost/gained in a day. The algorithms should limit such individuals gambling time and redirect them to support groups or self-help materials upon noticing such trends. Through this analysis, I have identified possible high-risk factors that drive people into gambling addiction. Since being surrounded by gamblers is one enabler, I would recommend that clients openly communicate with non-gamblers at home to help them through this problem. I would also suggest self-help activities such as cycling, gym, and other activities that keep someone engaged.
References
Chóliz, M., Marcos, M., & Bueno, F. (2021). Ludens: A gambling addiction prevention program based on the principles of ethical gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 1-16.
Ferrara, P., Franceschini, G., & Corsello, G. (2018). Gambling disorder in adolescents: What do we know about this social problem and its consequences? Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 44(1), 1-5.
Gambling statistics UK 2021. (2021). Xace.
Twumasi, R., & Shergill, S. (2020). Problem gambling: Why do some people become addicted? BBC News.
Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.