The Differences Between Gamblers and Substance Users Who Seek Treatment

Background and Objectives: Gambling disorder (GD) and substance use disorder (SUD) are diagnostically similar and share many etiological, clinical, and psychosocial factors. However, even among individuals who gamble, treatment-seeking (TS) rates appear much higher for SUD than GD. Methods: An analysis was conducted on data from an online survey of 10,199 Canadian adults (18+) over-selected for gambling participation to explore the basis of these differences. Results: Fewer respondents sought treatment for GD (6.8%; 91/1346) relative to SUD (30.3%; 236/778). Respondents seeking treatment for substance use (TS-SUD) had significantly higher levels of childhood abuse, generalized anxiety, and withdrawal/cravings, whereas respondents seeking gambling treatment (TS-GD) had higher overall addiction severity. A final analysis identified 8 variables as predictive of TS, with 5 of these occurring at higher rates in respondents with SUD: younger age, more past year negative life events, childhood abuse, post-traumatic stress, and not engaging in their addiction longer or with heavier use than intended. By comparison, greater addiction severity was the only predictor of TS that was more prevalent in respondents with GD. Conclusion: The present results indicate that (a) fewer respondents sought gambling treatment relative to substance use treatment; (b) TS-SUD is associated with a more prominent comorbidity profile; and (c) the higher rate of TS for SUD compared with GD is due, in part, to people with SUD having more general factors that are predictive of TS (eg, comorbidities). Scientific significance: these findings provide insight regarding different rates of TS for gambling and substance use.