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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2024, 26, 59

Gambling prevalence in patients with dependence on different psychoactive substances

Zuzana Kamendy, Adam Kurilla, and Lubomir Okruhlica

Digital Object Identifier:
https://doi.org/10.62401/2531-4122-2024-59

Summary: Background: Dependence on psychoactive substances and gambling are often present together. The distribution of this comorbidity is uneven with respect to the primary substance of use. The goal of the study was to identify the proportions of patients entering treatment due to dependence on different substances who also gambled and/or had a diagnosis of pathological gambling (PG). Methods: The retrospective study was conducted in a sample of 876 patients (average age 34.4, 77% males) entering treatment because of substance dependence. The sample consisted of patients with (a) alcohol, (b) methamphetamines, (c) heroin and (d) cannabis dependence. Data on gambling and diagnosis of PG were collected. Results: The prevalence of gambling in patients treated for methamphetamine, alcohol, cannabis, and heroin dependence was 22.8%, 8.2%, 4.5%, and 3.5%, respectively. Prevalence of the diagnosis of PG was 18.1%, 4.6%, 3.4%, and 0%, respectively. Conclusions: Comorbidity of substance dependence and gambling/PG in patients seeking treatment for substance use is expected. Differences exist based on the primary drug of use and gambling behaviour, with the highest prevalence among patients with primary methamphetamine use. According to the ICD-11 classification and subsequent treatment strategies, these findings have considerable implications for diagnostic assessments.

Keywords: substance dependence; gambling; pathological gambling