Feasibility and results of a pilot online survey to examine prevalence of gambling and problem gambling among Swedish substance abuse inpatients in compulsory care

• Published in: Cogent Psychology
• Main Authors: David Forsström, Kristina Sundqvist, Eva Samuelsson, Jessika Spångberg
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
• Subjects: Substance abuse; compulsory care; comorbidity; problem gambling; confirmed cases; Daryl O’Connor
• Online Access: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2024.2305543

The comorbidity between problem gambling and substance use/abuse is high in many populations previously studied. However, the occurrence of problem gambling among individuals with substance abuse has not been thoroughly studied, which is especially true for individuals in inpatient or compulsory care. The present early-stage study explored the presence of gambling and problem gambling among inpatients in compulsory care in Sweden who has been court-ordered to treatment for their substance abuse (alcohol and/or drugs). The study furthermore investigates the use of preventive measures and treatment seeking. The most effective strategy to recruit participants (no incentive, incentive and incentive and face-to-face recruitment) was also explored. Twenty-one participants were recruited and seven of them had at-risk or problem gambling and none of them had accessed treatment. The best way of recruiting was to offer a gift certificate and inform about the study face-to-face. The implications are that individuals in compulsory care for substance abuse need to be screened for problem gambling, that recruitment for studies in this population is best carried out by offering incentives and educational efforts and that it might be beneficial for the clients in compulsory care to be offered gambling treatment.