Naltrexone helps curb gambling addiction. I’m not surprised. As it happens, I’m familiar with the drug, as I tried it for a short time in my early efforts last year to arrest a growing alcohol dependency issue (and an underlying prescription drug dependency I wasn’t aware I had). Unfortunately, in my case all the drug did was exacerbate the problem and cause irrational bouts of aggression. Which is part of the double-edged sword of any psychosomatic drug: while it may work well for some, negative reactions can be very strong in some people.
Do let’s not exaggerate though: aspirin kills people, so do antibiotics. The question with any drug is not whether it will ever have negative effects on anyone, but rather, how to see to it that it’s used responsibly and how to deal with the bad cases. In my case, no more Naltrexone, at least not while mixed with certain other drugs.
That said, having studied its effects, I’m not entirely surprised it works for some people with gambling addiction issues. The drug was primarily designed to help opiate addicts, but has turned out to work even better for alcoholics. What it appears to do is block or retard the intense euphoria an addict gets from his favorite mind-altering activity or chemical (on a brain level there’s very little difference to speak of between chemical alteration and activity alteration anyway). Since many gambling addicts get that way because they experience an intense euphoria while winning, taking away that euphoria while gambling would probably decrease interest in the activity.
Anything that works in cases like this is good by me. I’m as convinced as anyone can be that addiction is a very real physical ailment, a brain disorder, and that treatment is generally better than punishment. Although punishment has its own purpose, it’s limited in its application.
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I’m going to file this under ‘Good News,’ because it is. A gambling addiction can bring ruin as severe as alcoholism or drug abuse.
I don’t know if this comment is out of place, but I’ve found it interesting to watch on the Young and the Restless (yes I watch soap operas, blame my watching them with my mother when I was a kid) as a scumbag with a gambling problem manipulates the people around him to continue his habit.
Elisha Feger’s last blog post..RIAA sink below the bottom of the scum chart, currently rating -1.5 out of 5
Addiction, which in its most pathological expression robs the addict of the ability to feel pleasure from normal things, will often lead to slow but inexhorable loss of proper moral function and moral reason. Gambling addiction is arguably more destructive on those most close to the addict simply because she wants and needs money money money, whereas substance dependency may at least at times be limited just because the addict can find alternate routes to get their fix–cheaper booze or drugs, or ways to get the booze or drugs free. Eventually, however, the end point is about the same: complete destruction of all normal life, ending in insanity, jail, or death one way or the other (and getting killed does definitely count).
Morality and practical effect wind up joining on this one, as they often do. Why would anyone care if you were drunk all the time, or gambled with every free minute, if it harmed neither you nor anyone else?
"Why would anyone care if you were drunk all the time, or gambled with every free minute, if it harmed neither you nor anyone else?"
Very true.
I am reminded of the man I loved so much when I was so young. He had a serious alcohol addiction and it bothered me so much. By me trying to keep our marriage, I went to Al Anon to find out what I could do. I really loved him. I was so worried about his health. This was back in the late 60′s & early 70′s. I was so thankful there were so many people that cared and helped me understand that my husband was indeed suffering a disease. My heart broke when in late 1970 I had to leave with my children. To this day I can say I would have stayed but upon getting drunk he beat me terribly.
I know addiction is a cruel thing to endure and hope more and more can be done to ease the brain from destructiveness.
I’m not sure if addiction to some things is a disease. I do know for sure it is for a suffering alcholic. This is a very good post and I hope it will help somebody you know or just you that maybe cures for all addiction are in the horizon. This will power analogy is for the birds.
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