Gambling requires no ingestion of chemicals. It's usually not perceived as a disease. Fewer resources are available for compulsive gamblers and their families. It often causes tremendous financial problems, which require immediate attention in treatment.
Compulsive gamblers are functional at work.
A gambling prevention message is not as easily accepted as a drug prevention one. They do not stumble around or slur their words. Compulsive gambling is, however, just as debilitating as alcohol or drug addiction. With the increase of legalized gambling comes the need to be aware of the warning signs of compulsive gambling. Its devastating personal and financial effects reach far beyond the gambler to family, friends, employers, and community.