Disordered gambling has a wide range of adverse effects on a person’s life beyond economic struggles. Often, a problem gambler struggles to maintain his or her social standing with their friends, families, and employers, and are likely to fall into other unhealthy behaviors.
In this post, we will discuss the social and health costs of disordered gambling and how they affect one another. We will also examine options for those struggling with gambling and alcohol use disorder (also called “addiction”) in Vineland, NJ, including help meetings and much more.
Social Costs of Disordered Gambling
A gambling disorder can affect more than just the bank accounts of those gambling. In many cases, disordered gamblers lose their social relationships over time as a result of their gambling behaviors. From personal relationships to employment, disordered gambling often damages the social connections that a person values most.
When a gambler continually loses significant portions of their income to gambling, their close relationships with family and friends can become strained. Constant borrowing from friends and not having money for essential family needs can destroy once strong relationships and alienate disordered gamblers.
Another severe social consequence for many problem gamblers is the loss of employment. When a gambling behavior gets out of hand, a person can become obsessed and even depressed, affecting his or her productivity at work. Ultimately, this results in termination for many gamblers, which intensifies the impact of the disorder and stresses relationships further.
Health Costs of Disordered Gambling
Frequently, problem gamblers adopt unhealthy habits due to their loss of money and diminished social status. In a large number of cases, disordered gamblers become depressed. This can be caused by a lack of money, damaged relationships, and more. Depression may lead to a reluctance to seek medical attention when needed. These unhealthy habits diminish the overall health of problem gamblers significantly.
Those who struggle with a gambling disorder are also prone to succumb to other disordered behaviors as well such as substance use. These magnify the problems of a disordered gambler by increasing economic stress and worsening personal health. However, there is support,treatment, and hope only a phone call or text away. Anyone battling disordered gambling and alcohol use disorder (sometimes referred to as “addiction”) in Camden or the rest of New Jersey should reach out to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) immediately for help.
While it can feel like disordered gamblers are alone in the world, there are organizations like the CCGNJ that are here to help. If you or a loved one is battling addiction stemming from a gambling disorder, we encourage you to call 1-800-GAMBLER today for help.