In an Australian cohort of 1,365 people tracked from adolescence to their early 30s, persistent binge drinking, tobacco use, and cannabis use from ages 13-28 all predicted gambling problems at age 31-32.
Addiction researchers, adolescent health providers, and anyone interested in how early substance use patterns predict later addictive behaviors.
2.30-3.42x odds of adult gambling with persistent adolescent substance use
What the researchers found
Persistent cannabis use from adolescence to young adulthood predicted gambling problems in the early 30s (OR 2.30-3.42). Binge drinking and tobacco use in young adulthood also predicted adult gambling. Mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety) were not associated with adult gambling, and no differences were found by sex.
Why it matters
This is one of the longest running studies to link adolescent substance use patterns to adult gambling problems, suggesting that addictive behaviors in youth may set the stage for different forms of addictive behavior later in life.
The numbers in context
1,365 participants; 7 waves of data (1998-2014); persistent substance use OR 2.30-3.42 for gambling problems; no sex differences; mental health symptoms not predictive
How the study worked
Prospective multi-wave study analyzing 1,365 participants across seven waves of data collection from 1998-2014, tracking substance use from ages 13-28 and gambling outcomes at ages 31-32.
What this study cannot tell us
Australian sample may not generalize globally. Self-reported substance use and gambling. Attrition across seven waves of data collection. Cannot determine whether substance use directly causes gambling vulnerability.
How to read the evidence
Long-running prospective cohort with seven data collection waves, though attrition and self-report measures are limitations.
When this study was published
Published in 2021 using data from 1998-2014.
The bigger picture
The findings support the idea that substance use and gambling may share common underlying vulnerability factors rather than being independent behaviors. Interventions targeting substance use in youth might have unexpected downstream benefits for preventing gambling problems.
Questions still open
- What shared neurobiological or psychological mechanisms link adolescent substance use to adult gambling? Would early substance use interventions reduce later gambling problems? Are there specific patterns of cannabis use that are most predictive?
Common questions
Did cannabis use specifically predict gambling?
Did depression or anxiety predict gambling?
Read the original research
Adult Gambling Problems and Histories of Mental Health and Substance Use: Findings from a Prospective Multi-Wave Australian Cohort Study.
Journal of clinical medicine, 10(7)
Citation
Merkouris, Stephanie S; Greenwood, Christopher J; Youssef, George J; Letcher, Primrose; Vassallo, Suzanne; Dowling, Nicki A; Olsson, Craig A. (2021). Adult Gambling Problems and Histories of Mental Health and Substance Use: Findings from a Prospective Multi-Wave Australian Cohort Study.. Journal of clinical medicine, 10(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10071406
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