Solving Addiction to Gambling
Bekederemo Angela
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and as a Licensed Clinical Social worker, I would like to shed some light on problem gambling and gambling disorder in the Nigerian context. Gambling has become an increasingly popular pastime in Nigeria, with many people viewing it as a harmless leisure activity. However, for some individuals, gambling can become a problem that leads to significant distress and impairment in their daily lives.
It has been argued that monetary gain, fueled by instant gratification and sometimes greed, unemployment, economic hardship, and poverty are the most potent motivating factors for gambling; and may act as a springboard to problem gambling and fuel criminality. Other less important factors are the pursuit of enjoyment, passion for sports, power, and peer group influence. These factors, combined with the limited awareness of gambling problems among the public and healthcare professionals, often result in people with gambling-related issues going unrecognized and untreated.
Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction that is characterized by persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. Individuals with gambling disorder experience a range of symptoms, including the need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement, restlessness or irritability when attempting to cut down or stop gambling, repeated unsuccessful attempts to control, cut back, or stop gambling, and often gambling when feeling distressed.In Nigeria, the most popular forms of gambling are online sports betting, the lottery, and slot machines. While some Nigerians view gambling as a harmless leisure activity, others see it as sign of lack of moral uprightness; the reality is that it can lead to significant social, financial, and emotional problems. Illegal gambling, particularly betting on football, is widespread in Nigeria, and it is believed to be a significant contributor to problem gambling.
Research into the nature and scale of gambling and its related harms in Nigeria is limited. There is a need for increased public awareness of the risks associated with problem gambling and for the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies. This is why Resurgence Mental Health Support Initiative is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, the 29th of March, at 3 pm with the theme: Solution Gambling. The webinar will provide valuable information on problem gambling and offer practical solutions for individuals who may be struggling with gambling addiction.
On a different note, I would like to use this medium to congratulate Dr. Honest Anaba, the Clinical Director of Resurgence Mental Health Support Initiative, and a Board member of KARIS; for attaining the International Certification in Addiction Medicine by the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM). This certification is a testament to Dr. Anaba’s dedication and expertise in the field of addiction medicine, and we are proud to have him as part of our team.
As we observe Problem Gambling Awareness Month, let us all work together to increase awareness about the risks associated with problem gambling and provide support to those who may be struggling with gambling addiction. Join us on Wednesday, the 29th of March, at 3 pm for our webinar on Solution Gambling. Together, we can promote responsible gambling and help prevent the negative consequences associated with problem gambling.
Bekederemo Angela is an Independent Clinical Social Worker, with over 14 years of social work skill sets. She is the Founder/Consulting Clinician of KARIS Family Development Initiative, a social work agency known as KARIS, an affiliate organization of Resurgence Mental health support Initiative.
