From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problem

AIMS - The aim of this study is to investigate the medicalising of gambling problems by comparing the political discussions on gambling in the Swedish Parliament in the early 1970s and the early 2010s. DESIGN - Against a theoretical background on medicalising processes in general, and medicalisation...

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Main Authors: Edman Johan, Berndt Josefine
Format: Article
Language:Danish
Published: SAGE Publishing 2016-02-01
Series:Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/nsad.2016.33.issue-1/nsad-2016-0006/nsad-2016-0006.xml?format=INT
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author Edman Johan
Berndt Josefine
author_facet Edman Johan
Berndt Josefine
author_sort Edman Johan
collection DOAJ
description AIMS - The aim of this study is to investigate the medicalising of gambling problems by comparing the political discussions on gambling in the Swedish Parliament in the early 1970s and the early 2010s. DESIGN - Against a theoretical background on medicalising processes in general, and medicalisation of gambling problems in particular, we have analysed discussion protocols and parliamentary bills in the Swedish Parliament from the years 1970-1975 and 2012-2013. RESULTS - The problem descriptions of the 1970s and 2010s are, in certain respects, strikingly similar, identifying proactive operators such as the gambling companies and highlighting an inadequate legal framework. But where the MPs of the 1970s put some effort into describing the drab society which fed the need for gambling, the elected representatives of the 2010s shortcut to individual dependence. CONCLUSIONS - EU membership and the development of the Internet have made effective control and regulation impossible in the early 2010s and the political handling of the Swedish gambling problem is therefore a clear example of how market liberalisation can pave the way for individualisation, medicalisation and depoliticisation of social problems.
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spelling doaj.art-aa6c8b814c374627a8600fcc5fad94f12022-12-21T22:45:40ZdanSAGE PublishingNordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs1458-61262016-02-013318111010.1515/nsad-2016-0006nsad-2016-0006From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problemEdman Johan0Berndt Josefine1Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD) Stockholm UniversityCentre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD) Stockholm UniversityAIMS - The aim of this study is to investigate the medicalising of gambling problems by comparing the political discussions on gambling in the Swedish Parliament in the early 1970s and the early 2010s. DESIGN - Against a theoretical background on medicalising processes in general, and medicalisation of gambling problems in particular, we have analysed discussion protocols and parliamentary bills in the Swedish Parliament from the years 1970-1975 and 2012-2013. RESULTS - The problem descriptions of the 1970s and 2010s are, in certain respects, strikingly similar, identifying proactive operators such as the gambling companies and highlighting an inadequate legal framework. But where the MPs of the 1970s put some effort into describing the drab society which fed the need for gambling, the elected representatives of the 2010s shortcut to individual dependence. CONCLUSIONS - EU membership and the development of the Internet have made effective control and regulation impossible in the early 2010s and the political handling of the Swedish gambling problem is therefore a clear example of how market liberalisation can pave the way for individualisation, medicalisation and depoliticisation of social problems.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/nsad.2016.33.issue-1/nsad-2016-0006/nsad-2016-0006.xml?format=INTgambling problemsgambling policySwedenparliamentary debatemedicalisation1970s2010s
spellingShingle Edman Johan
Berndt Josefine
From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problem
Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
gambling problems
gambling policy
Sweden
parliamentary debate
medicalisation
1970s
2010s
title From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problem
title_full From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problem
title_fullStr From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problem
title_full_unstemmed From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problem
title_short From boredom to dependence: The medicalisation of the Swedish gambling problem
title_sort from boredom to dependence the medicalisation of the swedish gambling problem
topic gambling problems
gambling policy
Sweden
parliamentary debate
medicalisation
1970s
2010s
url http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/nsad.2016.33.issue-1/nsad-2016-0006/nsad-2016-0006.xml?format=INT
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