AMA: Video game addiction not clear yet

The American Medical Association on Wednesday said it is not yet ready to link heavy video game playing with addiction.

"Given that approximately 70 to 90 percent of U.S. youths play video games," the association said in a statement, "the AMA today called for more research on the long-term beneficial and detrimental effects of video game and Internet use."

AMA President Ronald Davis said the organization is still concerned about the effects of heavy play on kids, urging "parents to closely monitor their children's use of video games and the Internet."

The finding is a retreat from a recommendation from the AMA's Council on Science and Public Health, which earlier had suggested linking overly frequent play with addiction.

The thing is, there's no doubt that many kids play too many video games, but addiction is an awful strong word. And what would the treatment be? Locking them up and giving them a Tetris drip?