Gambling, metal health, and demographic differences between people who gamble with and without cannabis use

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Author(s): McGrath, Daniel S. ; Williams, Robert J. ; Rothery, Brett ; Belanger, Yale D. ; Christensen, Darren R. ; el-Guebaly, Nady ; Hodgins, David C. ; Nicoll, Fiona ; Shaw, Carrie A. ; Smith, Garry J. ; Stevens, Rhys M. G.

Journal: Addictive Behaviors

Year Published: 2023

Date Added: January 12, 2023

Recent research has demonstrated that people with problem gambling may also struggle with cannabis use. The goal of this study was to see if there are differences between adults who gamble and who do or do not use cannabis. The researchers surveyed 10,054 Canadian adults who gambled regarding their demographics, cannabis use, gambling history and frequency, and mental health. They compared people who used cannabis (CUs) and those who did not use cannabis (NCUs). The results showed that a greater proportion of CUs had symptoms of problem gambling, tended to be younger, spent more money gambling, and participated in more types of gambling compared to CNUs. Several factors predicted being a CU. These included younger age, participating in online gambling, using tobacco and alcohol, and having experienced abuse as a child.

Citation: McGrath, D. S., Williams, R. J., Rothery, B., Belanger, Y. D., Christensen, D. R., el-Guebaly, N., Hodgins, D. C., Nicoll, F., Shaw, C. A., Smith, G. J., & Stevens, R. M. G. (2023). Problem gambling severity, gambling behavior, substance use, and mental health in gamblers who do and do not use cannabis: Evidence from a Canadian national sample. Addictive Behaviors, 137, Article 107520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107520

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107520

Keywords: cannabis ; gambling behaviours ; gambling disorder ; problem gambling ; substance use

Topics: Comorbidities ; Substance Use

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Psychological Factors ; Social - Social Demographics ; Social Factors

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: Canada

Study Population: 10054 Canadian adults who reported gambling in the past year

Sampling Procedure: Voluntary response sampling – the data were collected as part of the Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI) National Study on Gambling (ANP). Participants were recruited though Leger Opinion’s (LEO) online panel.

Study Funding:

This study was part of the Alberta Gambling Research Institute National Study on Gambling, which received funding from the Canadian Consortium for Gambling Research, the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse and Addiction, Gambling Research Exchange Ontario, and the Alberta Gambling Research Institute.