1300 727 957
Gambling harm doesn’t happen in isolation – it intersects with substance use, mental health, and everyday life.
At Lives Lived Well, we see the impact of gambling harm every day in our Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) services. Many of our clients don’t seek help for gambling, even when it’s causing significant distress. In fact, gambling often remains in the background – unspoken, unrecognised, and untreated (Hing et al., 2015). Yet, when we look at the bigger picture, the connection between gambling and substance use is undeniable (Yarbakhsh et al., 2023).
Our recent data shows that more than half of our AOD clients gamble, and within that group, nearly 1 in 3 are experiencing high-risk gambling. The overlap is even greater for certain substances: high-risk gambling is over four times more likely when methamphetamine use is present compared to alcohol use, and over than three times more likely compared to cannabis use. Additionally, we see that as gambling severity increases, so does depression and anxiety. These patterns highlight why gambling harm can’t be treated as an isolated issue, it needs to be considered alongside substance use and mental health.
Why Gambling Harm Often Goes Unnoticed in AOD Treatment
When we think about gambling harm, we are often guided by statistics from the general population. However, most people in the general population will never require treatment for gambling-related issues, with 0.67% of Queensland adults estimated to experience high-risk gambling (Department of Justice and Attorney-General, 2024). In AOD treatment settings, we see a very different picture – one where gambling harm is more concentrated and where the usual risk patterns shift. This means we must challenge common assumptions about who is at risk and ensure that our interventions are based on real-world data from those actually seeking support.
By embedding standardised screening, we remove subjectivity and prevent outdated stereotypes from influencing who gets help. Gambling harm doesn’t fit a single profile – it affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. AOD treatment presents a critical opportunity to engage people who are experiencing gambling harm but may never seek gambling-specific support. Many clients feel comfortable discussing their substance use but hesitate to talk about gambling due to stigma, shame, or simply not viewing it as an issue. Through systematic screening and proactive intervention, we help clients recognise and address gambling harm earlier, preventing crisis situations and supporting long-term recovery.
Putting This Into Perspective
Based on recent population data and gambling help-seeking rates, an estimated 4,458 people in Queensland with gambling problems accessed gambling counselling services in the past year (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2021; Department of Justice and Attorney-General, 2024). However, within Queensland AOD treatment services alone, approximately 7,630 clients may have co-occurring gambling problems, yet many of them may not be receiving gambling-specific support (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024; Cowlishaw, 2014).*
*Please note that these numbers are based on available data and estimations, and actual figures may vary depending on various factors, including help-seeking behaviours and service access trends.
This highlights a significant gap between need and service access, reinforcing the importance of integrating gambling screening and intervention within AOD services to ensure clients receive comprehensive care. By taking a proactive, integrated, and harm reduction-focused approach, we can ensure that gambling harm is addressed within AOD treatment, helping more people access support before they reach crisis point.
Lives Lived Well’s Gambling Intervention team is available to present free workshops which focus on identification of gambling harm and brief interventions. This is available in workplaces across Queensland and can be tailored to your service. For enquiries please call 1300 727 957 to speak with the program coordinator, Georgia Dellosa or email [email protected].
To complete our free online Gambling Screening training, register here.
References
Australia Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 2021 Queensland, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/3
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia annual report, Data. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol-other-drug-treatment-services/alcohol-other-drug-treatment-services-australia/data
Cowlishaw, S. (2014). Comorbid problem gambling in substance users seeking treatment. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
Department of Justice and Attorney-General. (2024). Queensland Gambling Survey 2023: Final Report. Queensland Government. https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/50ba6699-7699-483b-bc27-ee737698a667/queensland-gambling-survey-2023-final-report.pdf?ETag=d597678c1f1a0d325a1a3b6dc6eca6d9
Hing, N., Russell, A., Nuske, E., & Gainsbury, S. (2015). The stigma of problem gambling: Causes, characteristics and consequences. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. https://responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/documents/351/Hing-Stigma-of-problem-gambling-2015.pdf
Yarbakhsh, E., van der Sterren, A., & Bowles, D. (2023). Screening and Treatment for Co-occurring Gambling and Substance Use: A Scoping Review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 39(4), 1699–1721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-023-10240-z
