Most treatment for<unk>  involves counseling, step-based programs, self-help, peer-support, medication, or a combination of these. However, no one treatment is considered to be most efficacious and, in the United States, no medications have been approved for the treatment of pathological<unk>  by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a commonly used treatment for<unk> <unk> s. Modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, GA is a twelve-step program that emphasizes a mutual-support approach. There are three in-patient treatment centers in North America. One form of counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to reduce symptoms and<unk> -related urges. This type of therapy focuses on the identification of<unk> -related thought processes, mood and cognitive distortions that increase one's vulnerability to out-of-control<unk> . Additionally, CBT approaches frequently utilize skill-building techniques geared toward relapse prevention, assertiveness and<unk>  refusal,<unk>  solving and reinforcement of<unk> -inconsistent activities and interests. As to behavioral treatment, some recent research supports the use of both activity scheduling and desensitization in the treatment of<unk> <unk> s. In general, behavior analytic research in this area is growing There is evidence that the SSRI paroxetine is efficacious in the treatment of pathological<unk> . Additionally, for patients suffering from both pathological<unk>  and a comorbid bipolar spectrum condition, sustained-release lithium has shown efficacy in a preliminary trial. The opioid antagonist drug nalmefene has also been trialled quite successfully for the treatment of compulsive<unk> . Group concepts based on CBT, such as the metacognitive training for<unk>  have also proven effective. Step-based programs 12 Step-based programs such as Gamblers Anonymous are specific to<unk>  and generic to healing addiction, creating financial health, and improving mental wellness. Commercial alternatives that are designed for clinical intervention, using the best of health science and applied education practices, have been used as patient-centered tools for intervention since 2007. They include measured efficacy and resulting recovery metrics. Motivational interviewing Motivational interviewing is one of the treatments of compulsive<unk> . The motivational interviewer's basic goal is promoting readiness to change through thinking and resolving mixed feelings. Avoiding aggressive confrontation, argument, labeling, blaming, and direct persuasion, the interviewer supplies empathy and advice to compulsive gamblers who define their own goal. The focus is on promoting freedom of choice and encouraging confidence in the ability to change. Peer support A growing method of treatment is peer support. With the advancement of online<unk> , many gamblers experiencing issues use various online peer-support groups to aid their recovery. This protects their anonymity while allowing them to attempt recovery on their own, often without having to disclose their issues to loved ones. Self-help Research into self-help for<unk>  gamblers has shown benefits. A study by Wendy Slutske of the University of Missouri concluded one-third of pathological gamblers overcome it by natural recovery. Anti-addiction drugs Self-exclusion<unk>  self-exclusion (voluntary exclusion) programs are available in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, France, and other countries. They seem to help some (but not all)<unk>  gamblers to gamble less often. Some experts maintain that casinos in general arrange for self-exclusion programs as a public relations measure without actually helping many of those with<unk>  issues. A campaign of this type merely "deflects attention away from<unk> atic products and industries", according to Natasha Dow Schull, a cultural anthropologist at New York University and author of the book Addiction by Design. There is also a question as to the effectiveness of such programs, which can be difficult to enforce. In the province of Ontario, Canada, for example, the Self-Exclusion program operated by the government's Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is not effective, according to investigation conducted by the television series, revealed in late 2017."Gambling addicts ... said that while on the ... self-exclusion list, they entered OLG properties on a regular basis" in spite of the facial recognition technology in place at the casinos, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. As well, a CBC journalist who tested the system found that he was able to enter Ontario casinos and gamble on four distinct occasions, in spite of having been registered and photographed for the self-exclusion program. An OLG spokesman provided this response when questioned by the CBC: "We provide supports to self-excluders by training our staff, by providing disincentives, by providing facial recognition, by providing our security officers to look for players. No one element is going to be foolproof because it is not designed to be foolproof". Impact (Australia) According to the Productivity Commission's 2010 final report into<unk> , the social cost of<unk>  is close to 4.7 billion dollars a year. Some of the harms resulting from<unk>  include depression, suicide, lower work productivity, job loss, relationship breakdown, crime and bankruptcy. A survey conducted in 2008 found that the most common motivation for fraud was<unk> , with each incident averaging a loss of $1.1 million. According to Darren R. Christensen. Nicki A. Dowling, Alun C. Jackson and Shane A.Thomas a survey done from 1994–2008 in Tasmania gave results that<unk>  participation rates have risen rather than fallen over this period.
Problem gambling
Pornography addiction
Video game addiction
Computer addiction
Doping in sport
Addiction
Blood phobia
Alcohol dependence