Gambling addiction: a rapidly growing disease affecting more and more young people, discussed at Aconcagua Radio

Gambling addiction , or pathological gambling, is a disease recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is experiencing a worrying increase in society, even affecting children and preadolescents. This is the warning from Manuel Benítez, a psychology graduate and coordinator of the addiction treatment program at the Center for Studies, Assistance, and Research in Neurosciences (CESACIN).

"We're seeing a significant increase in cases. Many families are coming to us with very little information about how to deal with this type of problem," Benítez says in an interview with Aconcagua Radio . The specialist emphasizes the importance of recognizing gambling addiction as a disease: "This is an illness like any other; you have to go directly to a mental health professional so that they can develop a therapeutic strategy to address this type of problem."

One of the major contradictions Benítez points out is the dualism with which gambling is approached. While warnings are made about its health risks, its promotion through public figures, such as national team players, is constant. "There's a huge incongruity," says the psychologist, who attributes this situation to a "more capitalist system of selling a website that, on the one hand, causes a lot of harm, but if controlled, generates entertainment."

It's essential to differentiate between casual gambling and addiction. "Not everyone who goes online to gamble is addicted," Benítez clarifies, drawing a parallel with the casino: "It's like thinking everyone who goes to the casino is a gambling addict." The key, he explains, lies in the physical and emotional dependence on this behavior .

Gambling addiction not only impacts an individual's mental health, but often brings with it other serious problems. "When [the addiction] starts, it's linked to a crime, because they start stealing money or borrowing money and they know they won't be able to pay it back, or they start robbing old people or using the money they're given to live, to gamble," explains Benítez. This, according to the specialist, is related to the impulse to be unable to stop , leading to a "more manipulative personality where they can commit any type of crime to achieve that behavior or ingest some type of substance."

The situation is especially worrying for children and preadolescents, where the age at which they begin is increasingly younger. "Unfortunately, Pablo, yes. And we're seeing children as young as 10 starting online gaming," reveals Benítez. The ease of access with a single click, coupled with the immaturity of the child's brain, which isn't developed to handle the amount of neuronal stimuli, generates various problems. "It starts with a whole issue of circadian rhythms, and children often begin to experience sleep disorders," which in turn impacts academic performance and overall development.

CESACIN, the center where Benítez works, is experiencing high demand for care. "We admit patients to the intensive program twice a week, and we're seeing seven patients per admission, meaning we see fourteen patients who want to enter the facility, and we have a waiting list," he explains.

Regarding parents, Benítez observes a complex reality, marked by work and financial demands that often take away time from parenting. This creates "more distant parents, with completely blurred or inconsistent boundaries," which can contribute to the creation of personalities vulnerable to this type of addiction. The specialist emphasizes the importance of awareness of the illness , both in the patient and in their family environment.

The therapeutic approach at CESACIN is based on a diagnostic evaluation to understand the functioning of the patient and their support network. They work with behavioral psychotherapy and an interdisciplinary approach that includes a social worker and psychiatrist. "We have a zero abstinence program," says Benítez, emphasizing the need for medical support to manage physical and emotional withdrawal.

Listen to the full article here, and you can listen to the radio live at www.aconcaguaradio.com .