Gambling is becoming the "hidden" addiction, psychiatrists warn today.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Faculty of Addiction Psychiatry called for more support to be offered to people with gambling addictions.
Publishing a discussion paper Gambling: the hidden addiction, the Faculty asks the government to recognise gambling addiction as a public health responsibility and to provide services that mirror those that provide help to drug and alcohol addicts.
Describing it as a “hidden addiction”, the Faculty says gambling addicts deserve to have the same access to treatment services as those with alcohol and drug addictions.
However, there is just one specialist NHS clinic in Britain that offers treatment for adults with gambling disorders. Access to help is “patchy” or non-existent across the country and funded almost exclusively by the gambling industry.
If they are not treated, adults with gambling disorders can experience physical and mental health problems such as heart and musculoskeletal issues, depression, and anxiety.
Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, co-author of the discussion paper said: “Increasingly based on strong partnerships between the NHS and voluntary sector, community services have the experience and expertise to work towards helping people with a gambling disorder.
“Extending treatment to the ‘third addiction’ of gambling could deliver similar benefits, and would help ensure that care is joined-up, efficient, and seamless.”
Dr Sanju George, co-author of the discussion paper said: “If the government takes this action it will help address an acute and increasingly visible public health challenge.
“Without government action, however, the increasing availability and public visibility of gambling provides the perfect conditions for a new generation of problem gamblers – a future trend in addictions that we are ill-equipped to treat.”
An estimated 450,000 people have a gambling disorder in Britain and the problem is increasing.
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