Condron, Ita, Lyons, Suzi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4635-6673 and Carew, Anne Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8026-7228 (2024) Gambling in Ireland: profile of treatment episodes from a national treatment reporting system. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 41, (1), pp. 94-101. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2022.20.
Objectives: Globally, problem gambling prevalence is estimated at between 0.1% and 5.8%. Problem gambling can have many negative consequences; including on physical, and psychological health, and social functioning. There is a need to better understand treatment uptake as only a small proportion seek treatment. This is the first Irish national study using routinely gathered health surveillance data to describe treated problem gambling. Results will inform service policy and planning.
Methods: An analysis of episodes treated for problem gambling collected by the National Drug Treatment Reporting System was undertaken. Included were episodes entering treatment between 2008 and 2019 (n = 2999). Variables of interest included service types accessed, demographics, socioeconomic information, referral and assessment details, current problems (up to five) and treatment history.
Results: The majority (93.8%) were male. One fifth (20.9%) lived with dependent children, 7.4% were homeless. There were high levels of employment (35.4%) and formal education qualifications; half (53.8%) had completed second or third level education. Problem gambling frequently co-occurred with problem use of other substances (47.3%), which was most commonly alcohol (85.6%), followed by cannabis (32.3%), cocaine (28.0%) and benzodiazepines (10.9%). The majority were treated at inpatient settings (56.1%) with many self-referrals (46.3%).
Conclusions: This study provides insights into treated problem gambling nationally. Monitoring and surveillance can play a crucial role in measuring the successful efforts and help inform planning and treatment. The findings may have implications for treatment pathways.
[You can 'request a copy of this literature' if required. See also, Irish Examiner news article - Half of gambling addicts also have a problem with substance abuse]
B Substances > Alcohol
B Substances > Cocaine
F Concepts in psychology > Process / behavioural disorder (addiction) > Gambling > Gambling disorder / problem
F Concepts in psychology > Process / behavioural disorder (addiction) > Process disorder treatment or recovery
F Concepts in psychology > Process / behavioural disorder (addiction) > Process disorder prevalence
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Residential facility
L Social psychology and related concepts > Legal availability or accessibility
MA-ML Social science, culture and community > Sociocultural discrimination > Prejudice (stigma / discrimination)
T Demographic characteristics > Man (men / male)
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland
Click here to request a copy of this literature
Repository Staff Only: item control page