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Addiction is a huge problem in our current society. Whether the form of addiction involves substances, activities, or anything else, it hurts all of us some way or another. Although addictions can occur in any individual, it is often overlooked in adolescents. Surprisingly, adolescents have flocked toward gambling, which in turn, has resulted in part of the youth becoming psychological dependent on the addictive activity. In the article, “Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adolescent Pathological Gamblers,” the psychological dependency of adolescents to gambling is discussed. Furthermore, to raise awareness, it is important to analyze the issue of adolescent pathological gambling in our society as well as a means treatment for those who suffer from the detrimental activity.
Primarily, it is important to
address the issue of adolescent pathological gambling within the United
States. With forms of legal gambling
such as casinos and the lottery within the United States, gambling has grown;
however, with the increase of gambling, the amount of pathological gamblers has
grown as well. There have been various
studies for adult pathological gamblers; however, “86% of adult pathological
gamblers started gambling before the age of 19,” which indicates that the
adolescent population should be analyzed more than it currently is (Ladouceur,
Boisvert, and Dumont 231). Within the
article, “Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adolescent Pathological Gamblers,”
various studies were done to see how prevalent the amount of adolescent pathological
gamblers really is. By surveying various
juniors and seniors in different high school areas, results indicated the
various percentages of adolescent pathological gamblers: 5.7% in New Jersey
high schools, 1.7% in Quebec City high schools, and at least 4% in California,
Virginia, and Connecticut high schools (Ladouceur, Boisvert, and Dumont 231). These percentages indicate that a large
majority of students in high school are already diagnosed pathological gamblers
even though they are not currently adults.
Furthermore, the article states that “many of these young pathological
gamblers reported disturbed family relationships, disruption of school or work
activities, and performing illegal acts to obtain money for gambling or to pay
gambling debts” (Ladouceur, Boisvert, and Dumont 231). Given the previous information, one can
clearly see that there is a need for treatment in those adolescents that suffer
from pathological gambling.
Finally, it is important to
provide treatment for adolescents who are classified as pathological
gamblers. In the article,
“Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adolescent Pathological Gamblers,” a study
was conducted which provided a few adolescents with treatment. Although there have been many treatment
methods conducted for adults, the study in the article wanted “to develop and
evaluate the efficacy of a treatment program for adolescent pathological
gamblers which includes cognitive restructuring, problem-solving training,
social skills training, and relapse prevention” (Ladouceur, Boisvert, and
Dumont 232). In the study, four
adolescents who met the pathological gambling criteria were given treatment for
their addiction. The subjects were
assessed on a scale for control over gambling and a scale for severity of the
gambling problem, which in turn, provided a way to analyze improvement. For the treatment, the four subjects had to
meet a “therapist individually at least 1 hour a week, for approximately 3
months,” and were given information about gambling, cognitive interventions,
problem-solving training, social skills training, as well as relapse prevention
(Ladouceur, Boisvert, and Dumont 234). The
first subject was given treatment after one week in the study while subjects
two and three received treatment after two weeks, and subject four after three
weeks. All four subjects were given
pathological gambling treatment until they were able to gain a score of eight
on the scales for at least two weeks.
After the treatment was finally completed, the subjects were then given
follow-ups after one, three, and six months.
All four adolescent subjects successfully completed the treatment and no
longer met the criteria to be considered a pathological gambler. According to the article, “treatment duration
for adolescents [was] short compared to previous adult treatment programs which
required more than 3 months of therapy, probably due to the fact that
adolescents are less chronic gamblers” (Ladouceur, Boisvert, and Dumont 236). Although treatment for the adolescents was a
success, there are still relatively few methods for adolescents compared to
adults. Further studying should be
conducted among adolescents; however, at least there is hope to correct the
problem before they reach adulthood.
Adolescent pathological gambling
is an overlooked problem in our current society. It is important to raise awareness as well as
provide a means of treatment for adolescent pathological gamblers so that the
problem can subside or at least be reduced.
The article, “Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adolescent Pathological
Gamblers” provided a beneficial treatment method for adolescent pathological
gambling; however, there should be further research since the study in this
article used a small sample as well as no control group. By creating multiple treatment methods as
well as an increase of awareness within our society, the effects of
pathological gambling can be reduced by stopping it as it develops within adolescence.
Ladouceur, Robert, Jean-Marie Boisvert, and Jilda Dumont.
"Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adolescent Pathological Gamblers." Behavior Modification
18.2 (1994): 230-42. Behavior Modification. Web. 15 Mar. 2012.
