Addictive behaviours and substance misuse cont.
prior to completing a survey with the Gambling Commission. The most common types of gambling activity that young people spent their own money on were legal or did not feature age restricted products (arcade machines, placing a bet or playing cards for money with friends or family) (234). Many young people have seen family members they live with gamble, some of which viewed gambling as a positive activity that helped to pay for things at home (234). Motivations for gambling can vary. Most young people said they found gambling fun but only a very small amount of the same young people said it made Substances include alcohol and other legal or illegal drugs. A drug is any chemical that you take into the body, whether as a pill, a liquid, a powder, or in another form. It can affect the way you think, feel, and act (235). Young people’s health behaviour is driven by what they see around them – exposure to alcohol or drug use increases the likelihood of the young person also using alcohol or drugs (236). Different substances affect the brain in different ways. Young people use substances because of these effects, which include increasing feelings of pleasure or decreasing feelings of distress. The Mental Health Foundation also suggests that young people take drugs due to rebelliousness, a desire to escape from problems, or peer pressure. They may also begin to enjoy taking them and want to repeat the experience. Using drugs can exacerbate difficult feelings and emotions and risks dependency and a need for a professional diagnosis and support (also called addiction) (237). them feel happy. Substance misuse
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