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Youth Drug Use  – Other Addictions

 This page describes other addictive behaviours and substances that are used by some people. Gambling, steroid use and other behaviours pose risks for youth.

Gambling

 Approximately 70% of Canadian youth engage in some form of gambling. Gambling is not always a negative activity for youth if it is done for recreational purposes and if it is done within limits. It is when it turns into problem and pathological forms of gambling that there is concern. What is of concern in recent years is the high and steady rate of problem gambling among youth. These rates are higher than the rates of adults. Recent research shows that 4.8% of adolescent gamblers are categorized as pathological, and 14.6% are categorized as problem gamblers.

According to McGill University's International Centre for Youth Gambling and High-Risk Behaviours:

 -             More males gamble than females;

-             The rate of problem gamblers among youth is two to four times that of adults;

-             Gambling problems among youth are associated with poor coping skills;

-             Youth with serious gambling problems are at a greater risk for thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts; and

-             The shift from social to problem gambling is more rapid for youth.

 Gambling takes on many guises in terms of both legal forms (publicly regulated) and illegal forms. Youth do not typically have access to most legal forms of gambling because of age restrictions or because they do not have the credit cards required to participate in online forms of gambling. Nonetheless there is increasing evidence that not only are underage minors participating in these activities, but also that they are doing so with other adult family members.

Why youth gamble

 Youth do not gamble only with money. Youth also gamble with other items that they deem of value, which could include running shoes, CDs, Discmans, etc. As well, youth do not gamble for financial rewards alone, they also do it for a whole range of reasons, including the 'rush' of it and the self-esteem of proving they can be 'winners'.

Youth gamble for enjoyment, to win money, excitement, to make friends, and for relaxation. According to recent research, youth problem gamblers are more likely to gamble to escape problems, unhappiness or loneliness than social or recreational youth gamblers. Certain risk factors such as substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and problems at school also have been associated with problem gambling among youth.

 Signs and symptoms of problem gambling

 Gambling problems among youth can have an impact on families and communities. Youth gambling problems can be associated with substance abuse, depression, suicide and crime. They can cause relationship difficulties and problems at school. Some signs of gambling problems include:

Spending large amounts of time gambling,

Placing larger and more frequent bets,

"Chasing" losses,

Emotional highs and lows,

Gambling over other activities,

Growing debts, and

Preoccupation with gambling.

Lack of awareness among health professionals, teachers, and the general public, as well as a lack of screening tools, has led to an under-appreciation of the problem of youth gambling.

 Youth gambling takes on many forms beyond the legal ones. Gambling tends to fall into two categories, games of chance and games of skill. Games of chance are ones where the outcomes are random (for example: bingo, slot machines, or dice). Games of skill are often based on odds or particular skills.

-            bingo

-            card games

-            toss the coin

-            lotteries

-            dice

-            pool

-            sports betting/Proline

-            horseracing- dogfights

-            pokemon- blackjack

-            poker/dominos- slots

-            stock market

-            street racing & drag racing

 At the University of Toronto, the TeenNet project, based in the Department of Public Health Sciences, has focused its research on using technology for health promotion with youth. The newest TeenNet website, www.YouthBet.net, was launched in May 2002. This website addresses youth gambling problems from a prevention, harm reduction and health promotion perspective. The goal is to promote informed, balanced attitudes and behaviours about youth gambling; prevent youth gambling related problems, and to protect vulnerable and at-risk youth.

 Steroids

 Steroid users are not necessarily just professional athletes. You may be thinking of using steroids to change the way you look, and "bulk up" or build muscle to help you feel better about yourself. You may be thinking that you can become more popular and get more respect and sex appeal.

About 83,000 young Canadians, mostly young men, between the ages of 11 and 18 report using steroids at least once.

Of those young Canadians who use steroids, about half use steroids to improve their performance in sports; almost as many use steroids to change their physical appearance.

Most steroid users are male, white, middle class and age 14 or older. The majority are involved in a regular physical activity or fitness/weight training program.

Women between the ages of 11 and 18 are less likely to use steroids. It's mainly a male issue.

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