Above is the first part of the PBS documentary. The PBS Web site has lots of additional material @ PBS.org

Thanks for taking time to listen to this podcast. Have you tried the ACES program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto?

Thanks, you too!

Yes, and it was a good interview. Thanks for commenting.

-Brad

Thanks for the tip. I see that the site has been removed.

Being constructively engaged with the client - in this case the addicted teen - isn't as complicated as I made it sound. As I've already stated, I believe that most teens are very capable of comprehending the gravity of their life crises when confronted in a respectful, serious manner. If I had to attach myself to a clinical perspective, it would likely be that of Compton and Galaway.

(Lots of stuff by them if you do a Google search).

You also may be interested in checking out info on the individual and group therapy program being done at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. I spoke at two seminars recently where the director of the program was the keynote speaker.

Thanks for that Anna. My professional background is in social work in child welfare and youth criminal justice, so I really do believe that the best course of action in seeking change in teen behaviour is constructive engagement.

Realistically, an addiction to gaming that has taken years to develop cannot be 'cured' overnight. While we're working toward success, be it abstinence or curtailed gaming, I think parents need to be patient with their gamer and understand that this is going to be a painful growth process that will dredge up other complex emotional issues unrelated to video games.

I'm hoping to do some work with a local police force to educate parents on some of these issues in the coming school year, so feedback is much appreciated.

Thanks for that Gary...

I'm wrestling with all the phone calls and emails I get from parents: "How do I get my kid off the Xbox?" I'm hoping to have a complete, researched strategy sometime in the near future.

People are welcome to their opinion, but I am always wary of the source of negative reviews when a new controversy brews. Did the person read the research or the media talking points? Do they know anything about social research methodology? I've done some graduate studies in the social sciences, so I didn't want to comment on Gentile's research before I had actually tuned out all the B.S. and read the report for myself.

The reliability is +/- three points 95 times out of 100, which is excellent. Any political polling with such high validity would not be so roundly dismissed. This is good work, and he declares the limitations of his research, so there is no attempt to destroy the gaming industry or deceive anyone here.

This confirms in my mind that gaming addiction and Internet porn addiction are really the same thing. Not a popular sentiment, but I don't know many men my age who game compulsively who don't also have a problem with porn. When I read the words "Escort Service" I couldn't believe my eyes!