Gambling: normal adolescent activity or pathologic addiction?
A 15-year-old comes to the school counselor. He owes $4,000 in gambling debts to a sports-betting bookie, and he doesn't have the money. He is afraid. Yet, 2 weeks later, he bet on the Super Bowl and won $3,000. A 14-year-old limits his betting to $20 and $30; he only bets what he has and he is happy with his successes. A 17-year-old was born with a malformed arm and cannot play sports; instead, he makes bets on sports games. He sells his belongings to get the money he needs; right now, he owes $700. Are the behaviors of these teens unusual?
Selekman
Janice
J
University of Delaware School of Nursing, Newark, DE, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D014481:United States