NHS treats problem gamblers

According to a recent survey by the Gambling Commission, there are now estimated to be some 250,000 Britons, including many from younger age groups, who are ‘problem gamblers’. For such people, gambling is a form of addiction and as such not only has a negative impact on them and their finances, but their families as well.

This has led to a unique treatment being offered through the NHS for the first time, with the opening of the National Problem Gambling Clinic in London’s West End.

The treatment will be tested for a year and will include sessions with debt management counsellors as well as psychologists and psychiatrists.  Addict’s families will also be offered support and counselling to help deal with the multi-faceted impact of the problem.

The clinic’s lead consultant psychiatrist, Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, will oversee the treatment which will include methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing, in addition to dealing with financial and employment problems and their side-effects such as depression.

In addition to the more traditional forms of gambling such as horse-racing, slot machines etc, the Commission found that online gambling was steadily growing in popularity, with 6% of problem gamblers using websites to bet.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 am and is filed under casinos.

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