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Stefanovics EA, Potenza MN, Tsai J, Pietrzak RH. Gambling and Substance Use Disorders in U.S. Military Veterans: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Suicide Risk. J Gambl Stud 2024:10.1007/s10899-024-10359-7. [PMID: 39342537 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-024-10359-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Gambling and substance use disorders (SUDs) are prevalent among U.S. military veterans and often co-occur. However, little is known about the clinical and behavioral correlates and suicidal risk of SUDs and gambling among veterans that can help inform targeted interventions for their co-occurrence. In the current study, we analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 4069 veterans who participated in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Self-reported measures of lifetime SUDs and past-year gambling (Brief Problem Gambling Screen) were administered. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine differences between four groups: non-SUD/non-gambling, 40.3%; SUD-only 27.3%; Gambling-only 16.3%; and SUD + Gambling, 16.1%. The Gambling-only, SUD-only, and SUD + Gambling groups reported more adverse childhood experiences relative to the non-SUD/non-gambling group. The SUD-only and SUD + Gambling groups had higher odds for all lifetime and current clinical and trauma variables relative to the non-SUD/non-gambling group. The SUD + Gambling group had higher odds of suicidality, non-suicidal self-injury, nicotine dependence and mental health treatment relative to the SUD-only group and all assessed clinical measures relative to the Gambling-only group. Results suggest that SUDs and gambling are associated with substantial trauma and mental health burden among U.S. veterans, with co-occurring SUDs and gambling linked particularly to suicidality/self-harm and mental health treatment. The findings underscore the importance of multicomponent assessments and interventions targeting SUDs, gambling, and related concerns, such as trauma-related mental health difficulties, in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina A Stefanovics
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs New England Mental Illness Research and Education Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System (116A-4), 950 Campbell Avenue, Build 36, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.
- National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
- Connecticut Council On Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jack Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
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Hynes TJ, Chernoff CS, Hrelja KM, Tse MTL, Avramidis DK, Lysenko-Martin MR, Calderhead L, Kaur S, Floresco SB, Winstanley CA. Win-Paired Cues Modulate the Effect of Dopamine Neuron Sensitization on Decision Making and Cocaine Self-administration: Divergent Effects Across Sex. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:220-230. [PMID: 37673411 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both psychostimulant use and engagement with probabilistic schedules of reward sensitize the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system. Such behaviors may act synergistically to explain the high comorbidity between stimulant use and gambling disorder. The salient audiovisual stimuli of modern electronic gambling may exacerbate the situation. METHODS To probe these interactions, we sensitized ventral tegmental area DA neurons via chronic chemogenetic stimulation while rats (n = 134) learned a rat gambling task in the presence or absence of casino-like cues. The same rats then learned to self-administer cocaine. In a separate cohort (n = 25), we confirmed that our chemogenetic methods sensitized the locomotor response to cocaine and potentiated phasic excitability of ventral tegmental area DA neurons through in vivo electrophysiological recordings. RESULTS In the absence of cues, sensitization promoted risk taking in both sexes. When rewards were cued, sensitization expedited the development of a risk-preferring phenotype in males while attenuating cue-induced risk taking in females. CONCLUSIONS While these results provide further confirmation that ventral tegmental area DA neurons critically modulate risky decision making, they also reveal stark sex differences in the decisional impact that dopaminergic signals exert when winning outcomes are cued. As previously observed, risky decision making on the cued rat gambling task increased as both males and females learned to self-administer cocaine. The combination of DA sensitization and win-paired cues while gambling led to significantly greater cocaine taking, but these rats did not show any increase in risky choice as a result. Therefore, cocaine and heavily cued gambles may partially substitute for each other once the DA system has been rendered labile through sensitization, thereby compounding addiction risk across modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan J Hynes
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Chloe S Chernoff
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kelly M Hrelja
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maric T L Tse
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dimitrios K Avramidis
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melanie R Lysenko-Martin
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lucas Calderhead
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sukhbir Kaur
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stan B Floresco
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Catharine A Winstanley
- Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Pagano A, Le T, Fong T, Reid R, Delucchi K, Guydish J. Gambling, tobacco use, and health among individuals in substance use disorder treatment. Am J Addict 2023; 32:563-573. [PMID: 37543853 DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gambling is highly comorbid with disordered use of tobacco and other drugs, and may increase relapse risk among substance use disorder (SUD) patients. We investigated associations between gambling and tobacco use behaviors among SUD patients to inform clinical care. METHODS Patients (N = 651, 170 female) from 25 residential SUD treatment programs in California completed surveys about tobacco use, health, and gambling. Using multivariate regression, we examined associations between gambling, tobacco use behaviors, and mental and physical health. RESULTS Past-year gamblers were more likely than non-gamblers to be current smokers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 2.01). Smokers who gambled had higher mean Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) scores (mean difference = +0.32, 95% CI = 0.04, 0.60), and more often reported smokeless tobacco use (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.16, 2.58), compared to non-gambling smokers. Past-year problem gamblers were more likely than all others (non-gamblers and non-problem gamblers) to be current smokers (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.90) and to report high psychosocial stress (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.34, 2.61). Smokers with problem gambling also had higher HSI scores (mean difference = +0.54, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.95) compared to smokers without problem gambling. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Gambling and problem gambling were associated with tobacco use and heavier smoking. SUD patients with gambling comorbidity may be heavier smokers and may need concurrent treatment for tobacco use and problem gambling. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE This study provides novel data regarding gambling and tobacco use behaviors among SUD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pagano
- Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Thao Le
- Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Timothy Fong
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rory Reid
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kevin Delucchi
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joseph Guydish
- Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Vandenberg B, Livingstone C, Carter A, O'Brien K. Gambling and homelessness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence. Addict Behav 2022; 125:107151. [PMID: 34700154 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is growing concern internationally about co-occurring gambling and homelessness. We systematically review prevalence estimates in help-seeking and community samples. METHODS Adopting PRISMA guidelines, we searched CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Proquest Central, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for relevant peer-reviewed articles in English. Primary outcomes examined in narrative and quantitative syntheses included prevalence of: (i) gambling in persons experiencing homelessness; (ii) harmful gambling in persons experiencing homelessness; and, (iii) homelessness in persons experiencing harmful gambling. RESULTS Searches identified 917 records after removing duplicates. After screening, 45 articles providing 54 prevalence estimates across 12 countries were included, with help-seeking (k = 37) and community based sample (k = 8) estimates pooled separately. Gambling prevalence (all timeframes) in help-seeking samples of persons experiencing homelessness is low (28.7%, 95% CI: 17.3-41.7, k = 14) compared to the general population (approximately 60-80%). However, harmful gambling prevalence (including problem, pathological, and disordered gambling) in help-seeking samples of persons experiencing homelessness is high (16.5%, 95% CI: 10.2-24.2, k = 20) compared to the general population (approximately 1-7%). Additionally, homelessness prevalence is high in help-seeking samples of persons experiencing harmful gambling (23.6%, 95% CI: 18.4-29.2, k = 4) compared to the general population (<1%). Meta-analysis found high between-study heterogeneity and risk of bias from small samples sizes. CONCLUSIONS There are high rates of harmful gambling in persons experiencing homelessness and, concurrently, high rates of homelessness in persons experiencing harmful gambling. Improvements in sampling and measurement are needed to strengthen robustness and generalizability of prevalence estimates, which can potentially inform the scale and targeting of clinical interventions, support services, and policy responses.
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Nabifo SC, Izudi J, Bajunirwe F. Alcohol consumption and sports-betting among young male motorcycle taxi boda boda riders in urban southwestern Uganda. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:363. [PMID: 33593353 PMCID: PMC7885426 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10406-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The popularity of sports-betting is growing globally and may be associated with alcohol consumption among young adults. In this study, we examine the relationship between alcohol consumption plus other substances with sports-betting in a group of young adult males in Uganda. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study and interviewed male motorcycle taxi boda boda riders in the southwestern Uganda town of Mbarara. We asked questions about alcohol consumption, smoking plus history and frequency of sports-betting. Results We enrolled 401 riders. The median age was 29.0 years, interquartile range 25–32 years. Seventy four (18.5%) had engaged in sports-betting in the past 30 days. Among those that reported sports-betting, 16(21.6%) engaged daily or almost daily. Alcohol use was significantly associated with sports-betting with an adjusted risk ratio (aRR) of 2.08(95% CI 1.36, 3.18) among moderate drinkers but not among heavy drinkers in comparison to low or non-drinkers. Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with sports-betting with an aRR 1.85(95% CI 1.13, 3.01). Conclusion Sports-betting is common among these young male motorcycle riders, and is associated with both alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. Interventions to regulate sports-betting may be co-packaged with those to reduce alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking among young adult males. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10406-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Cheryl Nabifo
- Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O.BOX 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Jonathan Izudi
- Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O.BOX 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Francis Bajunirwe
- Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O.BOX 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
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Ethier AR, Kim HS, Hodgins DC, McGrath DS. High Rollers: Correlates of Problematic Cocaine Use Among a Community Sample of Gamblers. J Gambl Stud 2020; 36:513-525. [PMID: 32219672 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-020-09943-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Over half of problem gamblers (PGs; i.e., individuals with an impulse to gamble despite negative consequences) experience a substance use disorder. Explanations for this high rate of comorbidity have included shared clinical and personality factors. While gambling has been associated with substance use disorders in general, relatively few studies have examined the comorbidity of gambling and cocaine use disorders. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by comparing the demographic (age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, educational attainment, and employment status), gambling (time and money spent gambling, gambling severity, and motives for gambling), psychological (depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol consumption, nicotine dependency) and personality (trait impulsivity) correlates in a sample of community gamblers with varying degrees of cocaine use; never, recreational, and problematic use as measured by the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test Version 3 (ASSIST-V3.0). Of the 562 participants, 9.3% (N = 51), reported problematic cocaine use. No differences were found between groups for demographic factors. Problematic cocaine users (PCUs) were more likely to be PGs in comparison to recreational users, and never users. They also presented with increased levels of trait impulsivity, depression, anxiety, stress, and alcohol consumption. These results emphasize the need for increased focus on comorbidity and treatment approaches specifically tailored for individuals with PG and PCU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R Ethier
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Hyoun S Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David C Hodgins
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Daniel S McGrath
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Problem Gambling in the Fitness World-A General Population Web Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041342. [PMID: 32093056 PMCID: PMC7068575 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The world of sports has a complex association to problem gambling, and the sparse research examining problem gambling in athletes has suggested an increased prevalence and particularly high male predominance. The present study aimed to study frequency and correlates of problem gambling in populations with moderate to high involvement in fitness or physical exercise. This is a self-selective online survey focusing on addictive behaviors in physical exercise distributed by ‘fitness influencers’ on social media and other online fitness forums to their followers. Respondents were included if they reported exercise at least thrice weekly, were above 15 years of age, and provided informed consent (N = 3088). Problem gambling, measured with the Lie/Bet, was studied in association with demographic data, substance use, and mental health variables. The occurrence of lifetime problem gambling was 8 percent (12 percent in men, one percent in women). In logistic regression, problem gambling was associated with male gender, younger age, risky alcohol drinking, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and less frequent exercise habits. In conclusion, in this self-recruited population with moderate to high fitness involvement, problem gambling was moderately elevated. As shown previously in elite athletes, the male predominance was larger than in the general population. The findings strengthen the link between problem gambling and the world of sports.
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Widinghoff C, Berge J, Wallinius M, Billstedt E, Hofvander B, Håkansson A. Gambling Disorder in Male Violent Offenders in the Prison System: Psychiatric and Substance-Related Comorbidity. J Gambl Stud 2019; 35:485-500. [PMID: 29971589 PMCID: PMC6517603 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-018-9785-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Gambling disorder is an addiction that can cause major suffering, and some populations seem to be more vulnerable than others. Offender populations have a remarkably high prevalence of gambling problems and they are also over-represented in a number of diagnoses related to gambling disorder, like substance use disorders and antisocial personality disorder. Yet, there are few studies investigating gambling disorder prevalence and related psychiatric comorbidity in this group. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of, and association between, gambling disorder and other psychiatric diagnoses in a sample of young, male violent offenders. Two hundred and sixty-four male offenders, all serving sentences for violent crimes (recruited between 2010 and 2012) participated in this study and went through comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, including assessment for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition criteria. Sixteen percent of the participants met criteria for gambling disorder. Antisocial personality disorder, cannabis, cocaine and anabolic steroids abuse were significantly more common among participants with gambling disorder. The gambling disorder group also showed significantly lower educational attainment. Cocaine abuse and failure to graduate elementary and middle school in expected time were independently associated with gambling disorder in a regression analysis. This study confirms the previously described high prevalence of gambling disorder in offenders. The psychiatric comorbidity was high and the problems had started early, with lower educational attainment in the gambling disorder group. The findings stress the importance of increased awareness of gambling problems among convicted offenders and of gambling research on young people with delinquent behavior. There is a need of more research to investigate this further, in order to develop preventive strategies and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Widinghoff
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Research Unit/Gambling Disorder Unit, Malmö Addiction Center, 205 02 Malmö, Region Skåne Sweden
| | - Jonas Berge
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Research Unit/Gambling Disorder Unit, Malmö Addiction Center, 205 02 Malmö, Region Skåne Sweden
| | - Märta Wallinius
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Regional Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Växjö, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva Billstedt
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Björn Hofvander
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Division of Forensic Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Region Skåne Sweden
| | - Anders Håkansson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Research Unit/Gambling Disorder Unit, Malmö Addiction Center, 205 02 Malmö, Region Skåne Sweden
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Baroni S, Marazziti D, Mucci F, Diadema E, Dell’Osso L. Problematic Internet use in drug addicts under treatment in public rehab centers. World J Psychiatry 2019; 9:55-64. [PMID: 31211113 PMCID: PMC6560498 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v9.i3.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Problematic Internet use (PIU) or Internet addiction has been recognized to be a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviors regarding computer use and Internet access that leads to impairment or distress resembling substance abuse.
AIM To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of Internet use and abuse in a group of drug addicts from Southern Italy, by means of a specific questionnaire [“Questionario sull’Utilizzo delle Nuove Tecnologie” (QUNT)].
METHODS All subjects (183) were heavy smokers, almost 50% of them used heroin and/or opioid compounds, 30% alcohol, 10% cannabis, 8% cocaine, and 5% were polydrug users. Almost 10% of the individuals were also suffering from gambling disorder.
RESULTS The time spent online was more than 4 hours a day in the total sample, with a slight prevalence in male subjects. Cocaine and cannabis users spent more than 6 hours online, significantly more than opioid and alcohol abusers. Distribution of the QUNT factors was not different in both sexes. Cocaine users showed higher scores at the “loss of control”, “pornography addiction”, and “addiction to social networks” factors, for the stimulant effect of this substance. Moreover, 15 out of the total 17 cocaine users were pathological gamblers. Positive and statistically significant relationships were observed between some QUNT factors and body mass index.
CONCLUSION These findings indicate that PIU is less severe in subjects taking sedative substances, such as heroin/opioids and alcohol, than in subjects taking stimulants. Alternatively, it may be used as a “stimulant” trigger in cocaine and cannabis users. Flattening effect of abuse drugs was noted on possible sex-related differences in QUNT items. We observed a sort of “protective” effect of a love relationship and/or living together with a partner, as those engaged subjects showed lower scores on different items than single subjects or those living alone. The relationship between time spent online (and related sedentary lifestyle) and body mass index would suggest that Internet use might be a contributing factor to increasing weight gain and obesity amongst adolescents and young adults worldwide. Our findings also highlighted the specific vulnerability of drug addicts who use stimulants, rather than sedative compounds, to other kinds of behavioral addictions, such as gambling disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Baroni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy
| | - Donatella Marazziti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy
| | - Federico Mucci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy
| | - Elisa Diadema
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy
| | - Liliana Dell’Osso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy
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Co-occurring Disordered Gambling Among Treatment-Seekers at a Community Outpatient Addiction Clinic. J Addict Med 2016; 10:339-43. [DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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