Substance use and addictions
Alcohol, drugs, doping agents, medications and nicotine products can all lead to serious problems and addiction. The good news is that you can reduce or completely stop using these substances.Help for gambling problems
Gambling can take many forms — including traditional gambling, digital gaming, video gaming, cryptocurrency trading or other types of play. Games are designed to be engaging and even addictive, which means that there is a risk that playing can become problematic.Gambling addiction is a functional addiction that can cause psychological, physical, social and financial harm, not only to the person gambling but also to their loved ones. Problem gambling often involves secrecy and shame, and it is not something that you can always recognise from the outside.
How to identify high-risk or problem gambling:
- Gambling starts to take control of your life in a disruptive way.
- Your daily routines are affected because gambling takes up a lot of your time.
- You spend too much money, take out loans to gamble or accumulate debt.
- You lie about gambling, money or everyday issues.
- Communication with loved ones becomes difficult.
- You withdraw, feel angry, anxious or depressed, or deny the problem.
- You feel ashamed about your gambling and may even have self-destructive thoughts.
Test yourself: do you gamble too much? Do you gamble too much | Peluuri(external link) (in Finnish).
Help for high-risk and problem gambling is available through these services:
- Contact the national gambling helpline Peluuri: Peluuri - Help with gambling problems(external link)
- Peer support for gamblers and their loved ones | Pelirajaton(external link) (in Finnish)