Shadow World Impulsive: 6. Chasing Losses
Feb 13, 2026
A woman’s first scratchcard win spirals into daily gambling and online betting. A prescribed medication with dopamine effects triggers compulsive eating, hypersexuality and risky travel behavior. Family history of mental illness and workplace stress set the scene for a psychotic breakdown. Repeated attempts to stop fail as losses mount and a friend spots a possible drug link.
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First Scratchcard Hook
- Lucy bought her first scratchcard on a lunch break and won £100, which hooked her into regular purchases.
- She escalated to buying many cards, filling her glove compartment and walking miles to buy more, spending up to £100 per walk.
Problem Spans Drug Classes And Patients
- Investigations into dopamine-affecting drugs revealed many reports of impulsive behaviours across patient groups and different medications.
- Hundreds of people contacted the BBC after a piece on dopamine agonists, showing this is a broader issue.
Partial Agonist Can Produce Impulse Effects
- Aripiprazole is a partial dopamine agonist that both blocks and mildly stimulates dopamine receptors, producing effects similar to dopamine agonists.
- Though different from Parkinson's drugs, it can still cause impulsive behaviours including gambling and hypersexuality.