title: Updates of the prevalence of problem gambling in Romanian teenagers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to find out what is the prevalence of pathological in Romanian teenagers. We questioned one thousand thirty-two teenagers in Cluj-Napoca and Harghita counties. Participants completed a questionnaire with 40 items including gamblers anonymous twenty questions. The sample included teenagers aged 11-19 years; 65.57% were male and 34.43% were female. The subjects were divided into three groups: non-gambling/recreational gambling or occasional gambling (0-1 positive answers -Level 1)-753 subjects (72.96%) [316 females and 437 males]; problem gambling (2-6 points-Level 2)-243 subjects (23.54%) [43 females and 200 males]; pathological gambling (above 7 points-Level 3)-36 subjects (3.48%) [3 females and 33 males]. The mean age of pathological gamblers was 16.48 years. Gender differences were as expected, males engaging in pathological gambling (91.66% from pathological gamblers) more than females did (8.33% from pathological gamblers). Data revealed that the most encountered games practiced weekly were sport bets and slot machines in the case of 36.11% of the pathological gamblers; lotto, internet casino and pool bets each with 25%, followed by roulette and black-jack with 22.22%.From those who reported practicing gambling at a pathological level 66.66% engaged in alcohol consumption, 13.88% illicit drug use and 19.44% licit drugs. Just 16.66% smoke cigarettes. Data revealed higher rates of prevalence in Romanian teenagers than in other Central and Eastern European countries. A prevalence study at a national level should be designed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania.
authors.forename: Viorel
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lupu
authors.forename: Izabela Ramona
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Todirita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult