How Gambling Can Grow Stronger Over Time - 1237 Words

There are many different addictions. You can be addicted to almost anything, whether with substance or in activity. But there is a thought that one addiction is not as bad as another. Such as gambling. Could gambling be as bad as an addiction to alcohol? These addictions may not be related substance wise, but the effects of both addictions go hand in hand as will be shown. Some results include but are not limited to, financial ruin, legal issues, family issues, and medical issues. It will then be evident that gambling, even though it is not involving consumption, is as harmful as alcoholism. Gambling is to play games of chance for money. When done legally it is considered â€Å"gaming†. Though when people become addicted it is different, it†¦show more content†¦Quickly the bets and the debts begin to add up which leads to the gambler with unpayable bills, uncontrollable debts, maxed out credit cards, and the list goes on. The loss in bets or gambling with large sums o f money causes such results. As well gamblers are more likely to, depend on welfare, lose jobs or be underemployed, accumulate large bills due to medical and mental health treatment and lose homes or other property (Problem Gamblers and Their Finances 10). In the same way, alcohol consumes someone to the point where they spend all their money on getting alcohol. Alcohol is on the expensive side, and for simple alcohol consumptions the costs add up fast (Wolfe). In the end alcoholics end up spending money they do not have in order to feed their craving. This also leads to unpayable bills, uncontrollable debts, maxed out credit cards, and so on. Within financial ruin both gamblers and alcoholics experience nearly the same affects. Where there is a need for money, legal issues begin to arise. Gamblers are known to be involved in illegal activities to gain fast money. These crimes are to be able to pay off debts not able to be paid. Some crimes include; theft, false payment, embezzlement, and so on. A majority of gamblers have committed at least one illegal act in their lives, whether petty theft to armed robbery (Problem Gamblers and Their Finances 10). Research shows how detrimental gambling is to the economy, â€Å"A study by the National Opinion Research Center at