WEDNESDAY, Nov. 3, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Young adult and teen gamblers are more likely to suffer depression and have substance abuse problems than non-gamblers, says a Yale University School of Medicine study.
The researchers examined data on more than 1,000 teens, young adults and adults. They found teen gamblers were more likely than adolescent non-gamblers to report drug and alcohol use and abuse, and depression.
Teen gamblers were more likely to gamble for social reasons rather than to win money, and were less likely to have large wins or losses. Adolescent gamblers were less likely than early onset adult gamblers (those who gambled before age 18) to gamble daily or weekly.
Early onset adult gamblers had higher rates of drug and alcohol use and abuse/dependence than adult non-gamblers. Adult-onset gamblers (those who gambled after age 18) had higher rates of alcohol use than adult non-gamblers.
The study noted that about 68 percent of the U.S. adult population gambled legally in the past year. About 9 million Americans are classified as problem gamblers and another 3 million are classified as pathological gamblers.
The study appears in the November issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about gambling.
