The research was conducted in March and April 1989, when 456 letters were sent to all drug treatment agencies in England requesting information regarding cross-addictions to gambling. Responses came from 196 agencies. Sixteen agencies reported that fruit machine gambling was associated with some form of psychoactive substance abuse. Nine of the 16 agencies reported cross-addictions involving solvent abuse and fruit machine gambling. Despite the severe limitations of the data collected, which involved a mixture of specific records, personal observations, and anecdotal evidence, little doubt exists that these behaviors occur in some individuals, mainly male adolescents, although only an insignificant minority is probably involved. Table and 14 references (Author abstract modified)