The societal costs of problem gambling in Sweden.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Problem gambling is a public health issue affecting both the gamblers, their families, their employers, and society as a whole. Recent law changes in Sweden oblige local and regional health authorities to invest more in prevention and treatment of problem gambling. The economic consequences of gambling, and thereby the potential economic consequences of policy changes in the area, are unknown, as the cost of problem gambling to society has remained largely unexplored in Sweden and similar settings.

Methods

A prevalence-based cost-of-illness study for Sweden for the year 2018 was conducted. A societal approach was chosen in order to include direct costs (such as health care and legal costs), indirect costs (such as lost productivity due to unemployment), and intang

SUBMITTER: Hofmarcher T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7747412 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature