Quebec gambling treatment is free but little used, McGill study finds
Patients with gambling disorder averaged fewer than two treatment admissions over 13 years, researchers at McGill and the Douglas Research Centre found.
People with gambling disorder in Quebec make little use of the free specialized treatment available to them, according to a new study from McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre.
The researchers followed more than 2,300 people with gambling disorder over 13 years, from 2009 to 2022. They used health records from 14 of Quebec's 16 addiction rehabilitation centres, linked with other provincial health data.
Despite free access to public specialized services, patients averaged fewer than two treatment admissions over the whole period.
Who comes back
About 42 per cent of those who did get treatment were admitted more than once. People with mental health conditions were more likely to return for repeat treatment. The researchers said those conditions can take priority, so gambling problems may be less likely to be addressed.
People who sought treatment on their own were also more likely to return, which the authors said points to personal motivation as a factor for prevention strategies.
Senior author Marie-Josée Fleury, a professor in McGill's Department of Psychiatry, said gambling disorder often needs sustained, long-term care. She said that for some patients it should be treated as a chronic condition, comparable to substance-related disorders, and noted it carries a high risk of suicide and other social and health problems.
Hidden problem
Co-author Ovidiu Tatar, a postdoctoral researcher, said many people do not disclose gambling problems and doctors do not always ask. Because gambling problems are less visible than substance use, they can go unnoticed for years without screening, he said. The team is calling for earlier screening and outreach.
The paper, "Factors Associated with the Frequency of Treatment Admissions Over A 13-year Period Among Patients with Gambling Disorder," was published in the Journal of Gambling Studies.
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