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ER visits for gambling disorders doubled after expanded online gambling market

164 points · 157 comments · geox

  1. r3trohack3r · · focus · HN ↗
    > Emergency room visits for gambling disorders

    Are Canadian ERs different than ERs in the U.S.? Why would one go to an emergency room, seek emergency treatment, for a gambling disorder?

    1. john_strinlai · · focus · HN ↗
      is the sense that it wont immediately bankrupt you, yes, they are different.

      but my skimming of the study itself is that something else occurs (mental episode of some sort, such as anxiety attacks or suicide attempts, etc.) and gambling is noted as a primary or contributing factor in the billing code. it does not appear like someone wakes up, realizes they have an addiction to gambling, and then walks into the ER.

      1. stronglikedan · · focus · HN ↗
        > is the sense that it wont immediately bankrupt you, yes, they are different.

        also in the sense that you'll wait for a looong time to get treatment

        1. lurker_72 · · focus · HN ↗
          Maybe, maybe not. Our system is based on triage so if you are in dire need you go first.

          A few years ago I thought I broke some ribs in a snowboarding accident (turns out it was just 3 cracked ribs). Got to the ER, was given some pain medication and help breathing and was waiting for treatment when someone ran over 2 elderly people in front of the hospital. Their need was greater than mine so they took priority while I spent about 6 hours waiting.

          Last week I had my first heart attack. In this case I was the one that was immediately helped, stabilized, transferred to another hospital where they installed 2 stents and then back to my local hospital ICU all within 2 hours. If it weren’t for our system I would not be here today.

          Most stories about hours in ER waiting rooms simply don't take the severity of the issue into account and just generalize.

          Not saying that there are not issues, but I am so tired of the blanket anecdotal complaints

          1. qwerpy · · focus · HN ↗
            Dang. You're young and healthy enough to do intense snowboarding, and then a few years later suffer a heart attack? Glad you're doing better now, and thanks for the reminder to try to take care of my health.
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