Sheila B. Blume

Pathological gambling and switching addictions: report of a case

The phenomenon of “switching addictions,” defined as a substitution of one chemical or behavioral addiction pattern for another, has been observed in clinical practices for some time. This case study describes a patient who, in attaining abstinence from alcohol and other drug dependence, became a pathological gambler. The complexities of personal history, medical history and psychiatric history are described as well problems in treatment.