Gambling is the lesser of the two evils. You can always work out payment plans get a new job if you lost your old one rebuild your credit, file bankruptcy if you have too etc etc.
Now take a drug like Meth for example. Anyone that has a serious problem with that will cause irreversable damage to their face teeth mouth develop mental diseases etc etc the type of shit you usually cant make a comeback from. Herion and coke can kill you if youre not careful and or also cause damage to your heart brain etc. you face possible jail for possesion it goes on and on.