There are sure to be several ways we could categorize different types of addictions and the people they affect. It does seem, however, that much of the underlying machinery is consistent.

For me, there were signs of compulsive behavior very early on - from food to reading novels nonstop - and I knew after the first time I experienced a 'buzz' as a child (probably an antihistamine) that this could cause me even more trouble.

Would I have sought escapes out less if my family and social lives had been better, or would I have been drawn in no matter what? I have no idea. Regardless, I did manage to learn with time that 'finding a path', as you say, led me to deeper experiences that not only reduced my desire to escape, but made even the escapes richer and more enjoyable. Of course, the pendulum swings, but it is good to know there are other ways one can live-- which is not always clear to younger people, simply because they haven't proven it to themselves yet.

One of the worst ways we fail young people seeking meaning is by giving them incomplete, conflicting and downright false ideas about what to value. I suspect this in large part because we haven't quite properly reached consensus on this as a species. In any case, I certainly believe we can do better.