I grew up in a similar environment, saw lots of friends and family destroy their lives out of boredom and general bad company.

One of the reasons I hold so much affection for my childhood computers ( Atari 800XL, C64 and the Amiga ) are because they probably saved me from a sad destiny and gave me the opportunity to have a nice profession.

If it wasn't for those machines I might not have been where I am today.