Prevention and assistance for gambling addiction

surroundings, leading to social isolation and alienation.

· Finances. A gambling addict constantly borrows money, takes out loans, but does not repay the debts.

Stages of Gambling Addiction Development.
The Winning Stage. Having tasted success and winnings, the gambler enters a hormonal loop. He wants to experience euphoria again and again – the addiction mechanism is triggered. It is at this point that it is easiest to help the patient, but it is also at this stage that no one thinks about the impending disaster.

The Losing Stage. Since it is impossible to win constantly, and the only winner is the casino, the gambler starts losing more and more frequently and in larger amounts. Trying to win back, the person begins to borrow money wherever possible: they take out loans, pawn possessions, and resort to microloans. Other matters recede into the background; the main focus becomes the gambling process and the hope of winning back. They try not only to recover the money but also to re-experience the feeling of triumph and euphoria from winning, but it fades and eludes them.

The Reckless Stage. At this stage, the gambler has neither money nor close relationships left. Anything that hinders their gambling becomes an absolute evil. At this point, they may even kill to obtain money for gambling. Occasionally, they may have thoughts of stopping and quitting, but even if they try to fight – they cannot last more than a couple of days without gambling.

The Despair Stage. This is a dead end for the gambler. They are disappointed with gambling, they realize that it is ruining them, but they are unable to stop. The addict is in depression and despair, often suffering from co-occurring conditions – alcoholism or drug addiction. They have suicidal thoughts, and according to statistics, for a gambler, this is a frequently chosen way to end the craving once and for all. Now the patient may be willing to seek treatment, but it is very difficult to help them.

Prevention and Help for Gambling Addiction.
Gambling addiction has a powerful psycho-biochemical basis, which means that self-recovery is practically impossible. The question of how to get rid of ludomania becomes obvious to the gambler only at the fourth stage of the illness. Before this, the recognition of addiction is actively denied.

Therefore, the first and most important step towards recovery is acknowledging the existence of the problem – gambling addiction. Often, this will require conducting

a few consultations with a specialist psychotherapist.

These questions, developed by scientists on ludomania issues, are intended for anyone who may have problems in this area and are designed to help a person determine for themselves whether they are a pathological gambler.

1. Have you missed work or studies to gamble?

2. Has gambling ever caused you unhappiness?

3. Has gambling ever negatively affected your reputation? Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?

4. Have you gambled to pay off debts?

5. Has gambling reduced your ambitions?

6. After losing, have you felt the need to return and win back as soon as possible?

7. After winning, have you had a strong conviction that you should return and gamble even more?

8. Do you often gamble until you lose everything?

9. Have you ever borrowed money to gamble?

10. Have you ever had to sell something to gamble?

11. Do you have the concept of "gambling money" that you use only for gambling?

12. Has gambling caused you or your family significant financial harm?

13. Have you ever gambled for longer than you planned?

14. Have you ever gambled to forget about troubles?

15. Have you ever broken the law to get money to gamble?

16. Have you suffered from insomnia due to thoughts about gambling?

17. Do problems, disappointments, or frustrations create a desire in you to escape it all and gamble?

18. Do you have a habit of celebrating your gambling wins?

19. Have you ever contemplated suicide after losing?

If you have answered yes to seven or more questions, it is recommended that you consult a specialist. They will be able to more accurately determine your predisposition to ludomania and help resolve your situation.

In all healthcare organisations of the Republic of Belarus providing psychiatric (narcological) care to the population, "helplines" are in operation, where round-the-clock consultative psychological assistance is also provided to individuals suffering from pathological gambling addiction and their relatives.

On the basis of the state institution "Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Mental Health", as well as in all healthcare organisations of the republic

Psychiatric (narcological), psychological, and psychotherapeutic assistance, including anonymous services, is provided to individuals suffering from gambling addiction, as well as to families where a member has a pathological craving for gambling. Medical and psychological assistance is offered in inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as in day care units, where medication is prescribed, psychotherapy for gambling addiction is conducted, and specialized group psycho-correction sessions are held.

Due to the need to reduce the risks associated with the possibility of developing ludomania and to implement the method of diagnosing gambling addiction developed by the State Institution "Republican Scientific and Practical Centre of Mental Health," in healthcare organizations providing psychiatric care to the population of the Republic of Belarus, the institution's website offers anonymous remote testing for the population to identify gambling addiction, titled "Test to Determine the Degree of Gambling Addiction." This test is also available on the website of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Belarus.

https://vitebsk-region.gov.by/ru/news-ru/view/profilaktika-i-pomosch-pri-igrovoj-zavisimosti-21356-2021/