What We Treat
Gambling Addiction Malaysia
Gambling Addiction
In general, gambling can be defined as the act of placing a bet or a wager on an occasion with unknown results with the goal of gaining more money or valuables than the original sum. According to a 1974 theory by psychiatrist Dr. Robert L. Custer, people who gamble can be further classified into one of six different categories, which are:
- Professional
- Anti-social
- Casual-social
- Serious-social
- Relief and escape
- Compulsive
With the exception of professional and casual social gamblers, those within one of the above categories are at risk of developing addiction problems without proper supervision and self-control.
When it comes to gambling addiction in Malaysia, quite a few patients tend to opt for similar methods used in regular drug addiction treatment due to their effectiveness.
Causes of Gambling Addiction​
There are several reasons why some people turn out to be heavily addicted to gambling activities. These may include:
- The need to make some quick cash
- Yearning for excitement and an adrenaline rush
- Tempted by the high social status that comes with lucrative gambling
Symptoms
When left untreated, a person might end up suffering from severe gambling addiction if they exhibit certain behaviours, such as:
- Being overly secretive about their gambling activities and financial situation
- Keep on gambling despite running out of money
- Unable to control or stop gambling altogether
- Developing strained personal and professional relationships
Additional Risk Factors for Gambling Addiction
On top of the main causes, gambling addiction can also be triggered by the following aspects, for instance:
- Personality traits
- Use of dopamine agonists
- Mental health disorder
- Influence from a family member or peer
Treatment
Typically, the most common method implemented in order to combat gambling addiction in Malaysia is a series of therapy sessions that include behavioural exposure. Other than that, much like any other drug addiction treatment, anti-depression medications can be administered to alleviate gambling tendencies.