According to statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare, the number of people being treated for gambling addiction is increasing. At the same time, there is no clear increase in gambling addiction among the population itself.
Annika Hofstedt, head of department at the gambling addiction and screening health reception at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, believes it is difficult to determine the reason for this, but it coincides with a change in the law in 2018 that gives social services and nursing clearer responsibility for gambling addiction-related efforts.
– All licensed Swedish gambling companies must now be affiliated with Spelpaus. It allows all companies to be blocked at the same time. Previously, you had to contact each company individually.
A worrying trend is that gambling declines with age. More and more young people are developing problems, even in middle and high school.
– When we opened the practice, only a few percent of our patients were under 25 years old. It is now around 20 percent. This is worrying because it is not certain whether you will simply “outgrow” your gambling addiction, but there is a great risk that the problems will last for a long time, says Annika Hofstedt.
It often takes several years for a person to seek help for their gambling addiction. Unlike alcohol addiction, where most people realize that the solution doesn’t lie in the next drink, part of the problem with gambling addiction is the hope of a big win that will solve all financial problems.
– A person addicted to gambling can win big, and that is often the appeal. It’s easy to get caught up in this hope and then it often happens that you take on larger debts instead, says Annika Hofstedt.
Although it is illegal for people under 18 to gamble for money, many find ways to get around the rules – for example, by using a friend or parent’s account.
– In 2024, 27 percent of boys in ninth grade gambled for money and just over 4 percent gambled at risk. This can be compared to half a percent of the total population.
The numbers come from the Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information (CAN) and its 2024 national school survey.
Treatment is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on understanding and changing the behaviors that lead to gambling.
– Many people use gaming as an escape from fears and difficult emotions. It becomes an effective but destructive form of emotion regulation.
Men from socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are overrepresented among people with gambling addiction, but the problems exist in all areas of life, says Annika Hofstedt:
– Stock trading and cryptocurrencies can also develop into a gambling addiction. The pattern is the same.
Risk signals include gambling for more than intended, hiding gambling, or foregoing other things in order to have money to gamble.
– If you want gambling to be unproblematic, you should only play for money that you can afford to lose. If you’re playing to win money back, that’s a warning sign.
It can be difficult for family members to discover the problems. The truth often only comes to light in times of crisis, for example when large loans have been taken out or the house has been sold.
– Then the next of kin need time to process what happened. It may take time to regain trust.
Facts.Nine criteria for gambling addiction
Gambling addiction or having problems gambling for money is also called gambling syndrome. It is not the same as an addiction to computer or video games. Then we talk about computer game addiction.
The risk you develop Gambling addiction increases if you drink alcohol or take drugs while gambling. Gambling addiction and alcohol or drug addiction can reinforce each other.
There are nine criteria represent gambling addiction. To meet the diagnosis, four or more of the following descriptions must match:
• You constantly think about gambling: past gambling experiences, the next game, or how you will get money for the next game.
• In order to maintain the tension, increasingly larger sums of money have to be played.
• You have failed to limit or stop playback several times.
• You become restless or irritable when you try to limit or stop your gambling.
• They play to avoid thinking about problems or to escape anxiety or depression.
• You return to the game if you have lost money. They want to avenge the loss.
• You lie to hide how much you gamble, no matter who asks.
• You have risked losing or losing an important personal relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of gambling.
• They rely on others to raise money to solve a financial crisis caused by gambling.
Source: 1177
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