How it can all
get started
Patrick Gibson/Calgary Journal
Addiction affects a large number of people across the country. Although most people associate addiction with drugs or alcohol, gambling addiction can also be a major problem in people’s lives.
But how does an addiction get started? And who is at risk?
“There’s many different ways which addictions develop,” says Robert Williams, a professor of health science at the University of Lethbridge. “An over involvement in some kind of pleasurable activity is always the first thing.”
Andree, a presenter for the Problem Gambler Resource Network of Alberta, also states that an addiction rarely starts with just a one-time trip but admits that this is currently changing. “With the amount of gambling in Alberta we’re seeing a lot of people falling into that by accident.”
Another way an addiction can start is what Andree refers to as escape addiction, where people begin to partake in some activity in order to distract themselves from stress or problems at home.
When it comes to addiction, many different factors can be involved that will put a person at risk.
According to Williams, one of the biggest factors is someone's personality. Namely, how much a person is able to keep their impulses under control.
“It’s a small percentage of people who are unable to do that. Those individuals tend to have certain characteristics,” says Williams.
A number of other factors can play into addiction, such as a person's gender or age, says Williams. Men are found to have higher rates of most addictions, and people under the age of thirty are also found to have a higher rate, based on their willingness to take more risks. A person’s level of education and any significant stressors can also play a role in developing an addiction. Williams also says that addiction can be hereditary through genetics.
However, one thing that seems to be present in most addicts is the presence of some sort of mental illness or a traumatic childhood.
“Ninety to 95 percent of people who get involved with addiction have some sort of traumatic experience,” says Andree.
This also connects to Williams saying that addiction can be passed down from parent to child, as a child may have picked up an addiction from their parent's treatment of them.
"Addiction in parents is a very, very strong predictor, both because of the modeling, and the genetic markings."
Both also agree that a presence of depression or stress can lead to an addiction, as gambling can be seen as a way to escape a person's illness.
Availability of Gambling
Above is a map showing the location of all casinos in Calgary. This does not include the number of VLTs, bingo halls, and other gambling institutions.
"Countries where gambling is omnipresent like Canada have higher rates of addiction,” says Williams. This is backed up by a study from 2013 published by Henry H Y Tong and David Chim for the Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, which finds that there is a relationship between the proximity of casinos and the rate of gambling addiction.
This is not helped by the fact that a lot of gambling machines are made to entice people to keep playing them.
“VLTs and slot machines are created to be addictive. So 60 percent of people who play them develop a problem,” says Andree.
How To Get Help
When it comes to overcoming a gambling addiction, there are a few options in Alberta. The Problem Gambler Resource Network of Alberta does presentations where current and recovered problem gamblers share their stories, as well as the why and how of gambling addiction. These presentations are done at schools, rehab centers, and other places. The organization also provides one-on-one help and are willing to step in if an employer is worried one of their employees might have an addiction.
Andree, a problem gambler who works with the Problem Gambling Resource Network, also recommends Alberta Gamblers Anonymous to someone who is trying to overcome an addiction.
Gambers Anonymous is a twelve-step program based on Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s been around since 1957.
Gamblers Anonymous gives people a place where they can meet and share their stories of overcoming addiction one day at a time.
“I think there’s something about sharing amongst other individuals and knowing there’s that freedom on non-judgement.”
Williams suggests that one of the best ways to overcome a particular addiction is to never interact with the product again.
"Once you have an addiction, you have it for life. You're only able to rein in your propensities," says Williams. "Never consume the product again. Controlled drinking, controlled smoking, controlled gambling — for someone who has been over involved is extremely rarely successful."
Williams also recommends a change in a person's daily life in order to avoid the product.
"Avoid people and situations associated with the product. So don't hang out with friends who drink or gamble, don't drive home past the casino, take some other route."
Where To Get Help
1 - 855 - 222 - 5542
24 Toll Free Alberta Health Services Addiction Hotline
1- 866 - 332 - 2322