By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.
Problem-solving.
This week, March 3-9, is National Problem Gambling Week.
Problem Gambling is currently described as Pathological Gambling in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-TR-4.) Pathological Gambling is one of a group of disorders that currently are considered “impulse control disorders.”
Pathological Gambling is one of a group of disorders that currently are considered “impulse control disorders.”
DSM-5 Update.
In the DSM-5 this is named Gambling Disorder (F63.0) Essentially the same features.
Other impulse control problems not classified as an addictive disorder.
Other impulse control problems are intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pyromania, and trichotillomania. Intermittent explosive disorder gets treated by far the most, but many more people need to get treated for pathological or problem gambling than are currently receiving help.
In California, this week-long effort to make people aware of the difficulties people may have with problem gambling is spearheaded by the California Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs via their Office of Problem Gambling. In a few other states Gambling issues are treated by separately trained and licensed counselors.
One reason for the interest in problem gambling among drug and alcohol counselors is the tendency for clients in early substance abuse or addiction recoveries to “switch addictions” and now off drugs and alcohol, to develop a new problem with compulsive or pathological gambling.
The similarities between addictive disorders and pathological gambling are so large that it was proposed that Pathological Gambling be moved to the addictive disorders rather than the impulse control disorders when the new DSM-5 comes out. We will need to look at that again in the future when the DSM-5 is available.
One of the controversies among treatment professionals is about the choice between trying to control an issue like drug use or gambling and the need to stop doing that activity completely.
If we view drinking excessively or pathological gambling as an addiction then we would expect the client to need to totally abstain. If it is an impulse control issue then we might reasonably try to teach the client to control the impulses and drink or gamble in moderation.
Most people who self-describe as addicts or alcoholics will tell you that control is an illusion. For them, the only answer is complete abstinence.
One reason for the conflict is that funding for treatment often comes from the people who make the most profit from the activity. The alcoholic beverage manufacturers would like counselors to teach people to drink responsibly not tell them to stop drinking altogether. The same issue occurs when problem gambling programs are funded by casinos.
So if you are one of those people who are able to control your drinking or gambling and for whom it is mostly just a source of entertainment, then problem gambling week is not of much interest to you.
But if you are one of those people who have lost the ability to control your gambling or your drinking consider getting help. If you live with someone who has a Pathological gambling problem, consider getting help for yourself as well as for them.
The web address for the California initiative is www.problemgambling.ca.gov
Staying connected with David Joel Miller
Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!
My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.
Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.
Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.
As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.
Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.
Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.
Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.
Planned Accidents The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.
Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.
What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?
Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.
For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller
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