Pathological gambling and substance misuse

Abstract

This paper first discusses the ways in which pathological gambling (a disorder of impulse control) and substance misuse are similar. It then examines research focusing on substance misuse among pathological gambles, and research on pathological gambling among substance misusers, focusing on a study examining gambling among 462 methadone patients from New York City. That study found that 21% of the sample were probable pathological gamblers, while an additional 9% were problem gamblers, i.e., they had some problem related to their gambling. The treatment implications of these findings and future research directions are also discussed.