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Gambling Linked to Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes, Cannabis in Teenagers

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on Feb 6 2016 11:54 PM

 Gambling Linked to Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes, Cannabis in Teenagers
High prevalence of gambling among teenagers is linked to 'risk-taking behavior' such as use of alcohol, cigarettes, or cannabis, revealed a new study conducted in Italy.
"The high prevalence of gambling and its association with substance use provides further evidence of the need for a greater awareness of gambling behavior in early adolescence," said Alessandra Buja from the University of Padova, Italy.

The study, published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, included 1,325 sixth-to-eighth-graders from Italian schools participating in a program for the prevention of underage substance abuse.

The students answered questions about their experience with certain types of gambling: video poker, online betting, and 'scratch-and-win' cards.

They were also asked about their use of alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, and energy drinks.

The results suggested a high rate of gambling in this group of children and teens.

The study found that among eighth-graders, about 46% of boys and 35% of girls said that they were engaged in at least one sort of gambling.

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Source-IANS


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