How addiction problems can impact our children and cause years of harm

Living with a gambling addict can take a toll on a child's mental health, yet this unique type of domestic harm can easily slip under the radar.

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A report last year found that around 1.6 million children in the UK live with an adult who displays signs of a problematic gambling addiction.

It also discovered that children exposed to gambling are also four times more likely to go on to experience gambling issues themselves.

The concerning findings come from charity GambleAware’s annual Treatment and Support Survey - which included an online YouGov survey of more than 18,000 British adults, as well as one-to-one interviews with current and former gamblers, and online focus groups with affected others.

But how does exposure to gambling in the home impact children?

How does gambling issues at home affect the family dynamic?

“When a parent struggles with gambling addiction, it can lead to significant changes in family dynamics, affecting relationships and communication, and emotional regulation,” explains Dr Manpreet Dhuffar-Pottiwal, chartered psychologist specialising in behavioural addictions.