Residential Treatment Programs

Residential treatment programs can also be very effective treatment methods for recovering addicts, especially for those with more severe problems. For example, therapeutic communities offer highly structured programs in which patients remain at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. Therapeutic communities differ from other treatment approaches principally in their use of the community treatment staff and those in recovery as a key agent of change to influence patient attitudes, perceptions and behaviors associated with drug use. Patients in therapeutic communities may include those with relatively long histories of drug addiction, involvement in serious criminal activities and seriously impaired social functioning. Experts are now designing certain therapeutic communities to accommodate the needs of women who are pregnant or have children. The focus of the therapeutic is re-socialization. The patient will learn to live without drugs and crime.

Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral therapies are helpful to addicts in the following ways: by motivating people to participate in drug treatment offer strategies for coping with drug cravings; teaching addicts ways to avoid drugs and prevent relapse; and helping individuals deal with relapse if it occurs. Behavioral therapies can also help people improve communication, relationships and parenting skills, as well as aid family dynamics. Many treatment programs employ both individual and group therapies. Group therapy offers social reinforcement and helps enforce behavioral contingencies that promote abstinence and a lifestyle without drugs. Some physicians employ established behavioral treatments, like contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy, in group settings to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, particularly with adolescents with addictions, there is a danger of iatrogenic or inadvertent effects of group treatment. Because behavioral therapies address different aspects of addiction, combinations of treatments and medications may be more effective than either approach alone. Doctors administer treatments for drug abuse and addiction in many different settings through a variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches.

Gambling in Macau has been legal since the 1850s when the Portuguese government legalized the activity in the colony. Since then, Macau has become known worldwide as the Monte Carlo of the Orient.

Gambling tourism is Macau's biggest source of revenue, making up about 50% of the economy. Visitors are made up largely of Chinese nationals from the mainland and Hong Kong. With the entry of large foreign casinos from Las Vegas and Australia, Macau overtook the Las Vegas Strip in gaming revenues in 2007.

Until Western-style casino games were introduced in the 20th century, only Chinese games were played, the most popular being Fan-Tan. Generally, gambling in Macau can be divided into three different categories: casino games, horseracing and greyhound racing. There is also sports betting and a number of lotteries. At the present time, Macau does not license online gaming operations.

Macau has 33 casinos, of which the biggest is The Venetian Macau. They all operate under a government franchise and under a common set of rules.

Many forms of gambling are legal there, such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, boule, Sic bo, Fan Tan, keno and slot machines.

Poker was introduced only in August 2007, in an electronic table format at Galaxy Starworld casino. The first live poker tournament was the Asia Pacific Poker Tour Macau event in November 2007. Shortly thereafter, in January 2008, the government of Macau published the official rules for Texas hold 'em poker games in Macau. In February 2008, Grand Lisboa Casino added the first live-dealer cash game tables in Macau. In May 2008, 'PokerStars Macau' opened at Grand Waldo Casino. In November 2008, Texas Holdem' Poker opened at Wynn Macau and the Learn to Play table is available. 'PokerStars Macau' moved to a new location at the Grand Lisboa Casino in March 2009. Today, Wynn Macau, Venetian, Hard Rock Casino , StarWorld and Grand Lisboa Casinos offer live-dealer cash game poker tables, and only Grand Lisboa Casino has live poker tournaments every weekend.

Gambling has been legal in Macau for a long time beginning in 1851 where there was a licensing system for gambling houses until 1863. Beginning in 1934, casinos' ownership and operation was centralized where through private negotiations, some franchises monopolized the operation right of all casinos. The casino industry has been controlled by the STDM monopoly for 39 years but, this changed in 2001 when casino licenses were offered to other casino operators, including American companies such as Las Vegas Sands Sheldon Adelson and Wynn Resorts Steve Wynn and then later on May 18, 2004, the Sands Macau casino opened near the Macau Ferry Terminal.

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Pathological Gambling

Pathological gambling is being unable to resist impulses to gamble, which can lead to severe personal or social consequences.
Causes

Pathological gambling usually begins in early adolescence in men, and between ages 20 and 40 in women.

Pathological gambling often involves repetitive behaviors. People with this problem have a hard time resisting or controlling the impulse to gamble. Although it shares features of obsessive compulsive disorder, pathological gambling is likely a different condition.

In people who develop pathological gambling, occasional gambling leads to a gambling habit. Stressful situations can worsen gambling problems.
Symptoms

People with pathological gambling often feel ashamed and try to avoid letting others know of their problem. The American Psychiatric Association defines pathological gambling as having five or more of the following symptoms:

Committing crimes to get money to gamble
Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or quit gambling
Gambling to escape problems or feelings of sadness or anxiety
Gambling larger amounts of money to try to make back previous losses
Having had many unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit gambling
Losing a job, relationship, or educational or career opportunity due to gambling
Lying about the amount of time or money spent gambling
Needing to borrow money due to gambling losses
Needing to gamble larger amounts of money in order to feel excitement
Spending a lot of time thinking about gambling, such as remembering past experiences or ways to get more money with which to gamble

A psychiatric evaluation and history can be used to diagnose pathological gambling. Screening tools such as the Gamblers Anonymous 20 Questions can help with the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for people with pathological gambling begins with recognizing the problem. Pathological gambling is often associated with denial. People with the illness often refuse to accept that they have a problem or need treatment.

Most people with pathological gambling enter treatment under pressure from others, rather than voluntarily accepting the need for treatment.

Treatment options include:

    Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT has been found to be effective.
Self-help support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous. Gamblers Anonymous is a 12-step program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Principles related to stopping the habit abstinence for other types of addiction, such as substance abuse and alcohol dependence, can also be helpful in the treatment of pathological gambling.
A few studies have been done on medications for the treatment of pathological gambling. Early results suggest that antidepressants and opioid antagonists naltrexone may help treat the symptoms of pathological gambling. However, it is not yet clear which people will respond to medications.

Like alcohol or drug addiction, pathological gambling is a chronic disorder that tends to get worse without treatment. Even with treatment, it's common to start gambling again relapse. However, people with pathological gambling can do very well with the right treatment.