Is gambling an addiction or disease?

Question

I recently stumbled upon a blog site (http://www.gamblinganon.blogspot.com), and the blogger claims that gambling is an addiction and not a disease so anyone can quit. I was always taught that my gambling addiction was caused by chemical mix ups in my brain making me more impulsive?

Answer 1

For me, gambling and smoke is same, they are both addiction. However, without the gambling and smoke, life seem getting boring

Answer 2

it's addiction for you will not be satisfy with it and you'll definitely look for more and more until you get addicted..there is no satisfaction with it...

Answer 3

It's An Addiction Because When You See Gambling Machines You Want Gamble. So Your Answer Is ADDICTION!!!!!

Answer 4

addiction

those chemicals can be stopped with discipline

that or wear a watch to a casino and look at it every so often so you don't lose track of time

Answer 5

Someone who is seemingly unable to stop gambling could call it an addiction.

But a disease is more a colloquialism to describe it, rather than a real description.  A disease implies that the body is somehow harming itself through a process that cannot be controlled by sheer force of will.  Excessive compulsive gambling is no more a disease than wishing to disobey the speed limit and drive too fast, or choosing to take heroin.

Answer 6

I didn't realize that there was a difference...  I thought addiction was a disease.  Eitherway, there's an imbalance.  I mean, with the right know-how, even a disease can be "quit".

Answer 7

An addiction is a disease.

It is the brain giving priority to the addiction, over free will and possibly even over self-preservation.

There is a good discussion about "What is addiction" at

http://www.hbo.com/addiction/thefilm/sup...