Substance use and gambling in adolescence
Substance use (SU) and gambling are among the risky behaviours in adolescence. Some studies show that gambling and having gambling problems are associated with SU problems in youth. However, these studies provide little documentation on which gambling activities (nature and quantity) and types of gambling (Internet or non-Internet) are more specifically related to SU problems in adolescence. The research performed in this study aims at exploring the links between gambling activities, number of gambling activities and types of gambling, on the one hand, and the substances consumed as well as the severity of SU, on the other hand. To accomplish this, a study was conducted between 2007 and 2009 with 1,870 students from Secondary 3 to 5, between 14 and 18 years of age. They were administered a questionnaire on gambling habits (DSM-IV-MR-J) and another one on SU (DEP-ADO). The results show notably that the proportion of young polydrug users (alcohol and cannabis) who gamble is higher than that of youth who consume alcohol only. Also, playing on video lottery terminals (VLTs) seems to be associated with a greater severity of substance use than other gambling activities. Furthermore, a higher severity of SU is seen in those who engage in a larger number of different gambling activities. Youth who play VLTs and those who bet on sports play a higher average number of different gambling activities. Finally, the Internet gamblers in the sample present more severe SU problems than the non-Internet gamblers. The clinical implications of these results are discussed.