Addictive behaviours and substance misuse cont.
Gambling disorder A gambling disorder involves persistent or repeated gambling behaviour that significantly impairs the person’s life or causes them distress. In addition, the young person will have several of the following symptoms over a 12-month period: Persistent or recurrent gambling behaviour Impaired control over gambling (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination) Increased priority given to gambling to the extent that gambling takes precedence over their life interests and daily activities Continuation or escalation of gambling despite the occurrence of negative outcomes (244) Substance misuse disorders Substance misuse disorders are diagnosed when a young person is using alcohol or other drugs at levels that are associated with short-term or long-term harm. Substance misuse is not just a matter of how much of a substance a person uses, but how their use affects their life and those around them. Young people can be diagnosed with conditions associated with several different types of substances. Alcohol Alcohol slows down how our brain processes information, making it harder to work out feelings and consequences of our actions. Alcohol uses up and reduces the number of neurotransmitters in our brains, which are needed to help fight depression and anxiety. With the development of poor mental health, a cycle of dependency can occur. Likewise, people with severe symptoms of poor mental health are more likely to develop alcohol dependency (245).
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