Hate to say it, but video games were my first addiction at age 12. It was the day's of Pacman and Space Invaders, and it was a real addiction. I lied about it, stole money to "support my habbit", it was an escape. I did one of the most shameful things in my life to get money for games, I stole coins from my father's coin collection for money to play games.
Not saying there shouldn't be an arcade section here, and I still play games, still somewhat addictively, as an escape, but I guess it's at least a exercise in harm reduction.