Why Screen for Gambling Disorder?
- Gambling Disorder leads to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms.
- Gambling Disorder affects about 1% of the general population, and subclinical past year gambling-related problems affect 2 – 3% of the general population.
- As much as 10% of primary care patients report lifetime Gambling Disorder, and an additional 5% report lifetime subclinical problems.
- People with gambling-related problems are more likely to smoke, consume excessive amounts of caffeine, have more emergency department visits, and be obese.
- Although nearly 50% of people who have gambling problems are in treatment for “something,” national studies have failed to identify anyone who currently reports being in treatment specifically for gambling-related problems.
- Many cases of Gambling Disorder go undetected, due to limited assessment for this problem.
Who Should Screen for Gambling Disorder?
- Addiction service providers
- Mental health service providers
- Physicians (e.g., primary care and emergency medicine)
- Gerontologists
- Pediatricians
- Educators
- Youth community leaders
- Employee Assistance Plan service providers
- Veterans groups
What Should Happen at Gambling Disorder Screening?
- Complete a brief Gambling Disorder screen
- Discuss the results of a positive screen with a health provider
- Learn where to go for additional help and to access other resources, if necessary
- Receive educational materials on Gambling Disorder
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