Binge gambling behaviors reported by youth in a residential drug treatment setting: a qualitative investigation.
Two focus groups conducted with adolescents and young adults in a residential drug treatment facility yield some intriguing information about binge gambling, a relatively unexplored pattern of pathological gambling. Participants discussed the ways in which binge gambling may occur in relation to their drug habits, as a way to raise funds for the purchase of drugs or alcohol, to pass time when high, or as a substitute form of excessive risk-taking when drugs were not available. Binge gambling may be missed with conventional screening instruments, and it is suggested that gambling questions may need to be rephrased for certain high-risk populations.
Sklar
Alissa
A
International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. alissa.sklar@mcgill.ca
Gupta
Rina
R
Derevensky
Jeffrey
J
D000293:Adolescent; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005715:Gambling; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013637:Tape Recording; D055815:Young Adult