Nm. Petry et Z. Tawfik, Comparison of problem-gambling and non-problem-gambling youths seeking treatment for marijuana abuse, J AM A CHIL, 40(11), 2001, pp. 1324-1331
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of problem gambling (P
G) in marijuana-abusing adolescents. Method: A retrospective analysis was c
onducted of data collected from participants entering treatment for marijua
na abuse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Hartford, Connecticut, between
1998 and 2000. Results: Of 255 adolescents interviewed, 22% experienced gam
bling problems. Compared with non-problem gamblers (NPGs), PGs were more li
kely to be male, of African-American ethnicity, and to live in single-paren
t homes. Multivariate general linear models compared the two groups with re
spect to psychosocial problems. After controlling for age, gender, and race
, differences between the groups emerged in drug use severity, legal diffic
ulties, psychiatric problems, and human immunodeficiency virus risk behavio
rs. PGs reported a greater frequency of overall drug and alcohol use and gr
eater intensity of marijuana use than their NPG counterparts. They had more
illegal activity and greater somatization and anxiety symptoms, as well as
higher levels of victimization. Compared with NPGs, PGs also reported more
recent sexual partners. Conclusions: These data suggest that PG is common
in marijuana-abusing youths and that they have increased psychosocial probl
ems. These data suggest the need for early identification and treatment of
PG in substance-abusing adolescents.