Gambling Addiction Rehab Centers: Short & Long term Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment Program Options

Gambling Addiction Rehab Centers: Short & Long term Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment Program Options

The right outpatient or inpatient gambling treatment facilities can really help those with co-occurring substance abuse like drug and alcohol problems get their life back! 

Outpatient and inpatient gambling addiction rehab centers are seeing more patients because gambling addiction is one of the most dreary and chronic disorders that leads to devastation of not only a person’s life but also of the people associated with the person suffering.

The Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions 1997 research estimated that there were 7.5 million American adults are problem and pathological gamblers. The study also estimated that there were 7.9 million American adolescent problem and pathological gamblers.

The point is that there are millions of Americans with gambling addictions. Gambling addiction with drug and/or alcohol abuse is also a big issue in the country.

The good news is that there are many inpatient and outpatient gambling rehab centers in the country built for the purpose of helping the addict get back to normal life.

This article would focus on some helpful information on gambling addiction treatment facilities and other helpful information a person might need to get help.

What is gambling addiction?

Gambling addiction is the compulsion a person feels to go play sports betting, casino games, bookmaking, cards et cetera.

These games can be available online too. Problem and pathological gambling are known to be something that puts the gambler in the vicious circle of losing and this loss feeds the need to invest more amount of money at the cost of self or family needs.

When someone has a gambling addiction, they do not care about anything except to gamble. They typically believe that they just need to gamble one more time to win. And those who win often will just keep doing it for the thrill.

The good news as mentioned before is that there are gambling rehab centers all over the country with great treatment programs to help those dealing with this type of addiction get their life back.

Causes of Gambling addiction

Below are some causes of gambling addiction.

• Biological causes
• Environmental causes
• Financial problems
• Substance abuse
• Mental illness
• Wealth

As you can see there are several factors or causes of gambling addictions. Whatever the cause you need to get help from an addiction to a gambling treatment center immediately.

Gambling addiction signs and symptoms

There are many gambling addiction signs and symptoms and below are just some of them.

Substance abuse: Several studies have shown that those with substance use disorders have a higher risk of serious gambling problems like addiction. Likewise, those addicted to gambling have a higher chance of using substances like drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. The very idea of gambling induces a need to take risks and this risk-taking feeds the person’s will to gamble more.

Bad relationships: Those who gamble start keeping themselves away from other activities. Such people start fighting with their relations as they want money or time to invest in playing more gambling games.

Stealing money: Once the financial resources are over, the person gets into the habit of stealing or borrowing from the family or friends. This is a symptom of compulsive gambling.

Denial: Another common symptom found in patients like these is that they deny that they have any problem. They do not accept that they are going through an illness that is affecting their whole existence.

Loss of appetite: The person suffering from compulsive gambling does not eat properly. The body starts becoming frail and more prone to other diseases as the problem persists along with other problems like drug or alcohol intake.

Porn addiction: Those with gambling problems also tend to watch more porn as they use inter a lot.

Internet addiction:

The right gambling addiction treatment center can address many of the above symptoms by providing a holistic approach to patient treatment.

Short and long term health & financial implications

Gambling addiction comes with both health and financial implications. The financial resources of the individual get depleted very quickly as the need for funds every time the gambler loses leads to procure funds from the sources one has that are limited and hence they get over after a period of time.

The psychological setup of the individual gets disturbed. The adrenaline rush gets increased whenever a person sees things related to gambling. The behavior pattern of the individual gets changed and that makes him/her misbehave. Personal health gets compromised as anxiety leads to stress and low sleep intervals. The metabolism of the body also stands misbalanced.

So if you or a loved one have a gambling problem please contact a gambling addiction treatment facility immediately for help.

Types

According to the American Psychiatry Association DSM-5, you have two types of gamblers. You have a problem and a pathological gambler.

Problem gambling:

This is basically the constant urge to gambling without caring about the consequences.

Pathological gambling

Pathological gambling is basically when problem gambling becomes chronic.

The American Psychiatric Association DSM-V defines pathological gambling as a mental disorder.

Gambling addiction and drug abuse

Those with gambling addiction have a high co-existence of drug use disorder.

Drug addiction could lead to mental imbalance and morbid compulsion to gamble more as the senses are highly reactive at that time.

It can also happen vice verse where someone with a gambling problem takes up drugs to deal with their pain of constantly losing et cetera.

Gambling addiction and alcohol abuse

The person with gambling addiction could also be an addict to drinking.

The same way a drug works, alcohol also allows the person to feel light-headed and take risks that are out of one’s capacity to be handled.

Gambling and smoking addiction

Several studies have shown that those who smoke cigarettes tend to have gambling addictions. A study by researchers at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center, suggests that about two-thirds of those seeking gambling treatment are current daily cigarette smokers, and that smoking status is associated with more severe gambling and psychiatric symptoms.

Gambling treatment overview

This gambling is a mental disorder. So as such, there are different treatment modalities that treatment professionals use to treat it.

The best treatment program typically incorporates various rehab modalities for the best positive outcome that can help to end the compulsive stealing cycle. Some of these include cognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT), family therapy, relapse prevention therapy, medication( this is usually for those with other mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, drug, alcohol, and tobacco use disorders) et cetera.

One should not be ashamed of this disorder and instead should seek gambling disorder treatment services.

One also has many options on the type of facility to receive help from. The options include inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient facility.

Inpatient gambling rehabs

Inpatient or residential gambling addiction rehabilitation centers offer rehab programs built for people that can stay in the rehab facility and cared for 24/7.

Such rehab programs allow the individual to get separated from the external environment and bring them to a structured environment where there will go through cognitive and behavioral therapies.

And other treatment modalities that will help the person learn to control or be addiction free.

Inpatient gambling programs are typically for individuals who are chronic gamblers.

Outpatient gambling rehabs

An outpatient gambling addiction rehab center allows the individual to receive treatment while staying at their place of residence. The patients will get a schedule where they have to go into the treatment facility for their program sessions.

These outpatient gambling rehabs typically work in the same way as residential rehab, but they make sure that the person does not get into the habit again and learns to stay away from it. This type of treatment tends to be less expensive than a residential recovery facility.

Short and long term treatment duration options

Rehab centers for gambling addiction offer different treatment duration based on the severity of the addiction. People have options for either a short term or long term treatment at addiction facilities.

The length of treatment depends on many factors. For those dealing with a co-existing disorder with drug and alcohol or nicotine addiction, the treatment may be longer.  Part of this is the fact that a substance detoxification program has to be done first before the actual treatment starts. And these detoxes can take a few days to weeks.

Typically short term addiction rehabs are 28 days, one month, or a little longer.

The long term option will be two months, three months, 6 months or longer.  The long terms are usually for those who have been addicted for a long period of time and have chronic addiction.

The cost of gambling addiction treatment facilities care

The cost of addiction treatment for gambling varies. Typically inpatient programs are more expensive than outpatient programs. Location and the duration of treatment matter too. The longer you stay in treatment the more you will pay.

Regardless of the factor just know that addiction treatment facilities fees are high for treatment of all types of addictions including gambling.

To know the actual price of your rehab please speak with a rehab facility.

How can I pay for my treatment?

One of the questions those looking to check into private gambling rehab centers might have is what type of payment options are available.  There are many payment options that gambling addiction treatment facilities accept.

The treatment cost incurred can be paid with the help of in house payment plans such as an installment plan. One can also use their private healthcare insurance such as PPO or HMO.

You can pay for your treatment using Medicare, Medicaid, loans, borrowing from friends and family, addiction scholarships, and GoFundMe et cetera.

These facilities also accept healthcare finance options also. These can be through such healthcare financing companies such as care credit.

Ready to get help? Call immediately!

There are a number of people suffering from this severe and non-severe gambling issues nowadays. With approximately 85% of U.S. adults have gambled at least once in their lives according to the National Council on Problem Gambling, some people will develop an addiction to gambling.

So if you have a relative who is in such trouble or you are the very person who has discovered the earliest signs of the problem, then it is time that you choose an outpatient or inpatient gambling rehab center for treatment.

There are a wide variety of treatment options from experienced gambling addiction rehab centers.

Being informed about a problem and getting it treated on time is the best thing a person can do.

Please call to be connected with an addiction treatment counselor if have a gambling addiction co-existing with alcohol or drug abuse.

FAQ

What do you call a person who is addicted to gambling?

Those who are addicted to gambling are also called compulsive gamblers, pathological gamblers, problem gamblers et cetera. Gambling addiction is considered an impulse-control disorder because of those gambling problems gamble impulsively to gamble without caring about the negative impact on their life or on others.

Is pathological gambling a mental disorder?

Yes, pathological gambling is a mental disorder. Pathological gambling is also called known as compulsive gambling. And is considered chronic gambling that has both physical and psychological health implications on the gambler.

How many people have a gambling problem?

It is estimated that between 4 to 6 million Americans are pathological gamblers( chronic gamblers) while a little over 2 million are problem gamblers( the less severe type of gambling problem). So there are quite a number of the American population with gambling addictions.