Inpatient Problem Gambling Treatment

If you are one of the 2 million individuals who have gambling disorder, you may have thought about treatment.  There are inpatient gambling treatment programs that might help.  These facilities have trained specialists who understand gambling disorder, including the behaviors behind gambling addiction.

An inpatient gambling treatment program is much like the inpatient treatment that one would receive for substance use disorders.  You would reside in the facility for a predetermined number of weeks and receive structured care that would help you start a path of recovery.  One reason that inpatient treatment works well is because you would be away from gambling activities that could serve to trigger relapse.  During your stay in treatment you could learn the causes of your gambling addiction and learn ways to live free from gambling.  Many individuals report that being in an inpatient facility helped them to focus on their recovery without the distractions of gambling activity nearby.

If you have other outside responsibilities, you might consider outpatient treatment; however, you would still have access to gambling activities.  Either way, there are treatment facilities that can help.  If you identify with each of the following, inpatient or outpatient treatment may be the right choice for you.

• You have gambled for longer than planned.
• You spend money on gambling activities that you do not have.
• You borrow money or steal from others to finance your gambling.
•  You are preoccupied with gambling and find it difficult to not think about gambling.
• You are unable to stop gambling.

Inpatient gambling treatment programs are typically 30-days in length; however, some facilities offer 60 and 90 day stays.  If you think you might experience difficulty in having access to gambling activities, then a 90-day program might work well for you.  The ability to not be tempted by gambling is an asset in getting you working a program of recovery.  When you leave the facility, you may have the tools you need to resist temptation.

Once you have made the decision to enter a facility, you will undergo an assessment and completion of paperwork.  Detox will not be needed as gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction and there are no substances involved.  You will be given a schedule that is carefully structured to ensure that you have time for yourself as well as therapy and group work.  You will learn a lot about yourself and your addiction and have the resources to continue your program of recovery once you leave.