Gambling Disorder: The Cousin to Substance Abuse Disorder

Dr. LaDonna McCune is an International Certified Gambling Counselor-Level II and a Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor. She is the Undergraduate Director of the Substance Abuse Studies Program at the University of Central Oklahoma and teaches in the Graduate Addictions Counseling Program for the University. There are both similarities and differences in substance abusers and compulsive gamblers. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Psychological Disorders (DSM V) defines disordered gambling as persistent and recurring problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. In the previous version of the DSM pathological gambling was listed under impulse disorders and in the newest version of the DSM gambling disorder has been moved to substance related and addictive disorders. This move seems to be a logical move considering the similarities in the addictions.