Addictive behavioural problems bear resemblance to alcohol and substance misuse, although no drug is consumed. Compulsive gambling can leave an individual and their friends and family in serious debt, along with significant detriment to their health and emotional wellbeing, and there is an increased risk of suicide. Gambling problems are more common in younger adult males and those with insecure finances and employment. It is also associated with violence and recognising it can lead to improved treatment and support for those affected. All individual has a problem with an addiction when they continue with a behaviour despite adverse consequences, and show cravings and urges to engage in the addictive behaviour (Yau and Potenza, 2015). Certain behaviours in gambling addiction resemble the dependence seen in those who are affected by substance misuse. Gambling addiction shows similar clinical signs as substance misuse dependence, such as craving, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, comorbid-ities and neurobiological profile (Leeman and Potenza, 2012). Like those affected with substance misuse addiction, gambling addiction may show a chronic and relapsing pattern, with some individuals managing to recover without any formal treatment, whereas the vast majority require varying degrees of support to re-establish control over their addiction. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) has only formally classified gambling disorder within the 'Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders' category in the last few years as distinct from previous editions (Yau and Potenza, 2015).
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