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Series: Links to other issues

Gambling and substance use

9 min read

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Are you wondering if there is a link between your gambling and substance use?

Have you ever noticed that your gambling gets out of control when you drink or take drugs? Or perhaps it’s the other way around – that you drink more or take drugs after you gamble?

Recognising how your gambling and substance use are linked can help you understand why you’re struggling with your gambling and work out what type of support you may need.

Are you wondering if there is a link between your family member or friend’s gambling and substance use?

Do you suspect, or have you noticed, their gambling is more likely to get out of control when they drink or take drugs? Or perhaps it’s the other way around – that they drink more or take drugs after they gamble?

Recognising how their gambling and substance may be linked can help you understand why they’re struggling with their gambling and work out what type of support they may need.

Are you wondering if there is a link between someone’s gambling and substance use?

Do you suspect a client’s gambling gets out of control when they drink or take drugs? Or perhaps it’s the other way around – that they drink more or take drugs after they gamble?

Professionals, particularly those in mental health or other health fields, often see people who have both gambling and alcohol or drug problems. Recognising how gambling and substance use are often linked can help you work out which type of support your clients could benefit from most.

How are gambling and substance use linked?

There is a strong link between gambling and substance use, like alcohol misuse and drug use. Research suggests that just under 60% of people who have an issue with their gambling also misuse alcohol or drugs.

People who drink too much or take drugs are at a higher risk of developing issues with their gambling. On the other hand, people who struggle with their gambling are more likely to drink too much or use drugs. Most people who have both of these issues experience substance misuse first, but some people experience gambling difficulties first.

Gambling is often linked with drinking or taking drugs, even for people who don’t have any issues with them. Some people drink or take drugs first, which makes them more likely to gamble. Others drink or take drugs after they gamble to cope with the consequences of losing money. Many gambling venues serve alcohol, so it’s also common for people to drink and gamble at the same time. It’s also easy for people to drink too much or take drugs when they’re gambling online at home.

"After a few drinks it all seemed good but I felt really bad when I realised that all of my pay was gone. I'm going to have to borrow money again this week" – Male chat client

Mixing alcohol or drugs with gambling can be risky because it can increase the risk of gambling getting out of control. When people are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they may end up gambling when they normally wouldn’t. Drinking or taking drugs makes it harder for people to stick to their limits by spending more money and time gambling than they had planned. They can lose track of time, pay less attention to losses, and “chase” their losses. They may also become overconfident about winning because alcohol and drugs affect people’s ability to think clearly, manage their emotions or make good decisions. They can also lower inhibitions, causing people to act impulsively without fully considering the consequences.

 “I was using alcohol, going for a drink with friends as an excuse to go to a venue. The more I drank the more I lost. It just numbed out all that was going on in my life.” – Not a Dollar More Podcast

What are the signs of issues with alcohol or drug use?

Alcohol and drug use issues involve difficulty controlling the frequency and the amount used, and continuing even when it causes problems. The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-21 shows that around 15% of Australian adults experience serious problems with alcohol at some point in their lives and that around 6% experience problems with other drugs. Looking at some of the signs of excessive alcohol and drug use can help people work out if these issues are linked to their gambling.

  • Drinking or taking drugs in larger amounts or for longer than intended
  • Failing in attempts to stop drinking or taking drugs
  • Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from drinking or taking drugs
  • Feeling strong cravings and urges to drink or take drugs
  • Not managing to do what you should at work, home, or school because of drinking or taking drugs
  • Continuing to drink or take drugs even when it causes problems
  • Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of drinking or taking drugs
  • Repeatedly drinking or taking drugs, even when it may put someone in a dangerous situation
  • Continuing to drink or take drugs even when it makes a physical or psychological problem worse
  • Needing more alcohol or drugs to get the wanted effect
  • Developing withdrawal symptoms when attempts are made to stop drinking or taking drugs
  • Use repeatedly results in significant distress or problems in daily life.

What can you do?

Here are some strategies if you suspect your drinking or drug use is part of the reason you’re struggling with your gambling. Planning ahead is a key part of this effort because these tips can be difficult to put into place after you’ve used alcohol or drugs.

Monitor your substance use and gambling.

Keep track of when, how much and how often you drink or take drugs, and when, how much, and how often you gamble. You can write it down or even type it into the ‘Notes’ app on your mobile. Look to see how often you do both on the same day and in which order you do them. Keeping a record like this can give you a sense of how these behaviours might be connected.

Set gambling limits.

Think about ways in which you can set limits on the money or time you spend gambling – see Setting Gambling Goals. You could also sign up for voluntary limit-setting programs in gambling venues or apps – see Gambling Self-Exclusion.

Set substance use limits.

If you do drink, try to stick to the guidelines recommended by the Australian government – not more than 10 standard drinks per week, and no more than four standard drinks per day. There aren’t any equivalent limits for drug use, but it’s best to only take legal prescription drugs as they are prescribed.

Pay attention to who’s around you.

Try to identify if there are any people in your life who encourage you to keep drinking, taking drugs or gambling after you say you’ve had enough.

Take regular breaks.

Taking regular breaks from both substance use and gambling can interrupt the cycle and help you regain some control. Pay attention if you find reasons or excuses to continue with either after you decided to stop for a while.

Self-care.

Self-care, like exercise, sleep, walking in nature, eating healthily, and socialising with people you like and who respect your limits, can reduce your urges to drink, take drugs, and gamble. See our self-help information on Focusing on Health and Wellbeing.

Relaxation.

Relaxation and mindfulness activities can help to reduce urges to drink, take drugs, and gamble. See our self-help information on Finding Ways to Relax.

Talk to your doctor.

Your doctor or health care professional may be able to help you develop some strategies to manage your drug and alcohol use.

Seek additional support.

One of the best things a person can do when they’re drinking, taking drugs or gambling too much is to get some support. Many people tell us they benefit from more than one type of support. Supportive friends or family members are a great source of emotional and practical help and advice. Many people also benefit from seeking support from a gambling or an alcohol/drug counsellor. For more information on the range of support and counselling options available, see Seeking Support.

What can you do?

Here are some strategies if you think that drinking or taking drugs are part of the reason your family member or friend is struggling with their gambling. Plan ahead because these tips can be difficult to put into place after they’ve used alcohol or drugs.

Monitor their substance use and gambling.

Encourage them to keep track of when, how much and how often they drink or take drugs, and when, how much and how often they gamble. They can write it down or even type it into the ‘Notes’ app on their mobile. Ask them to look to see how often they do both on the same day and to make a note of the order they do them. Keeping a record like this can give them a sense of how these behaviours might be connected.

Set gambling limits.

Encourage them to think about ways in which they can set limits on the money or time they spend gambling – see Setting Gambling Goals. They could also sign up for voluntary limit-setting programs in gambling venues or apps – see Gambling Self-Exclusion.

Set substance use limits.

If they do drink, encourage them to try to stick to the guidelines recommended by the Australian government – not more than 10 standard drinks per week, and no more than four standard drinks per day. There aren’t any equivalent limits for drug use, but it’s best for them to only take legal prescription drugs as they are prescribed.

Take regular breaks.

Encourage them to take regular breaks from both substance use and gambling as these can interrupt their vicious cycle.

Self-care.

Encourage them to take care of themselves. Self-care, like exercise, sleep, walking in nature, eating healthily, and socialising, can reduce their urges to drink, take drugs, and gamble. See our self-help information on Focusing on Health and Wellbeing.

Relaxation.

Encourage them to do some relaxation or mindfulness activities. These activities can help to reduce urges to drink, take drugs, and gamble. See our self-help information on Finding Ways to Relax. It could help them if you joined them in doing some of these activities if you can.

Talk to their doctor.

Their doctor or health care professional may be able to help them develop some strategies to manage their drug and alcohol use.

Seek additional support.

Encourage them to seek support. One of the best things people can do when they’re drinking, taking drugs or gambling too much is to talk about it. Many people tell us they benefit from more than one type of support. Friends or family members who are understanding can provide a great deal of emotional and practical help and advice. Many people also benefit from seeking support from a gambling or an alcohol/drug counsellor. For more information on the range of support and counselling options available, see Seeking Support.

What can you do?

Here are some strategies if you think that drinking or taking drugs are part of the reason someone is struggling with gambling. Recommend they plan ahead to use these tools because the tips can be difficult to put into place after they’ve used alcohol or drugs.

Monitor their drinking and gambling.

Ask them to consider keeping track of when and how often they drink, use drugs, and gamble. They should look at when these behaviours occur (the day and time) and keep track of how much they drink or take drugs and the total amount of money they spend on gambling. They can get a little notebook or even write it in the ‘Notes’ app on their mobile. Tell them they don’t have to show anyone, not even you, but keeping a record like this can give them a sense of how these behaviours might be connected.

Set gambling limits.

Encourage them to think about ways in which they can set limits on the money or time they spend gambling – see Setting Gambling Goals. They could also sign up for voluntary limit-setting programs in gambling venues or apps – see Gambling Self-Exclusion.

Set drinking limits.

Encourage them to set limits on their alcohol consumption in line with the guidelines recommended by the Australian government – not more than 10 standard drinks per week, and no more than four standard drinks per day. There aren’t any equivalent limits for drug use, but they should only take legal prescription drugs as they are prescribed.

Take regular breaks.

Encourage them to take regular breaks from both substance use and gambling as these can interrupt the pattern and give them back a measure of control.

Self-care.

Encourage them to take care of themselves. Self-care, like exercise, sleep, walking in nature, eating healthily and socialising with supportive people they like, can reduce their urges to drink, take drugs, and gamble. See our self-help information on Focusing on Health and Wellbeing.

Relaxation.

Encourage them to do some relaxation or mindfulness activities. These activities can help to reduce urges to drink, take drugs, and gamble. See our self-help information on Finding Ways to Relax.

Ensure they have medical support.

If you are not a medical practitioner, ensure they seek medical advice in relation to their alcohol or drug use.

Seek additional support.

Encourage them to get some support, perhaps from more than one source. One of the best things people can do when they’re drinking, taking drugs or gambling too much is to talk to understanding friends or family members. They should also try to keep to a regular schedule speaking with you, a gambling counsellor or an alcohol/drug counsellor. For more information on the range of support and counselling options available, see Seeking Support.

If gambling and drinking or using drugs results in significant consequences or a loss of control, it may be best to try to avoid mixing them. Consider if you can do one without the other.

If you’re concerned about your drinking or drug use, you can take a self-assessment to help you understand your current situation.

Coping with gambling and alcohol or drug use issues can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you think that alcohol or drug use is an issue for you, help is available.

If gambling and drinking or using drugs results in significant consequences or a loss of control for your family member or friend, it may be best to encourage them to try to avoid mixing them. Encourage them to consider if they can do one without the other.

Coping with a family or friend’s gambling and alcohol or drug use can be challenging. But you don’t have to do it alone. If you think that alcohol or drug use is an issue for your family member or friend, help is available. Be patient and encouraging, and you can make a significant difference in their journey towards recovery.

If gambling and drinking or using drugs results in significant consequences or a loss of control for the person you’re working with, it may be best to encourage them to try to avoid mixing them. Encourage them to consider if they can have one without the other.

Coping with gambling and alcohol or drug use can be challenging, but with your help and support, things can improve. It takes time and effort, but there are resources available to assist them. Be patient and encouraging, and you can make a significant difference in their journey towards recovery.

“The parallels in the addictive nature of both issues mean many of the skills used to treat one can also be effective in treating the other.” – Caroline Long, Odyssey House

Want help related to substance use?

These free services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Counselling Online (nationwide drug and alcohol counselling)
Kids Help Line (young people aged 5 to 25)
13 YARN (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)

Do you want more help?

For help with your gambling and substance use, you can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Do you want more help?

For help with gambling and substance use, you or your family member or friend can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends like you. It’s not only the person who gambles that can be affected, but the people close to them too. It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re supporting someone else. Check out the family and friends section in our peer support community to connect with people who understand.

Do you want more help?

For help with gambling and substance use, you or the person you’re working with can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals like you. It can be hard for professionals to support people with gambling issues. To learn more about how you can help, go to our section on How Professionals Can Help.

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