Barriers to Gambling Treatment Among American Military Personnel: A Qualitative Study

Gambling disorder (GD) poses a significant public health problem, with treatment access frequently hindered by barriers. This study sought to identify the unique internal and external barriers encountered by military personnel with GD using a qualitative descriptive method. Twenty-eight United States military veterans and service members (SMs) were recruited through purposeful sampling strategies and interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. Content analysis revealed two main themes: "Emotional Suppression in Military Culture" reflecting military cultural norms that emphasize strength, discipline, and emotional control, which were internalized by the participants and created significant internal barriers; "Structural Ignorance of Gambling Problems" uncovers external barriers such as the normalization of gambling, insufficient recognition of gambling's addictive nature within military and Veterans Affairs (VA) settings, and inadequate treatment options within the VA healthcare system. The study underscores the complex interplay between cultural norms and institutional practices and proposes policy recommendations to improve help-seeking behaviors for veterans and SMs.