An addiction physician's warning about America's next public health crisis

Addiction medicine physician Safina Adatia discusses her article, "Why gambling addiction is America's next health crisis." She warns that following the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling to overturn sports gambling bans, the U.S. is facing a potential epidemic with tens of millions at risk. Safina explains that unlike substance use disorders, problem gambling lacks sufficient research, effective treatments, and public health infrastructure. The conversation explores how the ease of access through smartphones and ubiquitous, predatory marketing campaigns are fueling what she calls a "runaway train," with data suggesting a widespread issue, particularly among young people. Safina argues for a multi-layered clinical approach combining therapy and medication, similar to models for opioid use disorder, and calls for urgent legislative action. She advocates for Congress to fund research, for lawmakers to curb advertising like they did for tobacco, and for a surgeon general's warning on gambling platforms to protect the public from this avoidable crisis.

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