The bidirectional relationship between gambling and addictive substances

TitleThe bidirectional relationship between gambling and addictive substances
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsBussu, A, Detotto, C
JournalInternational Gambling Studies
Volume15
Issue2
Pagination285-308
Abstract

This study aims to analyse the co-occurrence of gambling activity and the consumption of addictive substances, such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs. By using a sample of 709 gamblers in Sardinia (Italy), a multivariate probit approach is proposed since it allows simultaneous study of the extent of correlation between the consumption of different substances.

Our findings document that, on the one hand, betting more money leads to an increase in the propensity to consume tobacco in the middle of the game, and, on the other hand, the simultaneous co-occurrence of smoking, alcohol and drugs drives up the probability of getting more involved in gambling activity. Knowing the positive reinforcing effects of addictive substances is the first step towards implementing the most effective prevention and treatment modalities for problem/pathological gamblers.

URLhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14459795.2015.1042493
DOI10.1080/14459795.2015.1042493
Keywordsaddiction, co-morbidity, gambling, health, quantitative