A new study making the rounds has suggested that playing Tetris can help someone beat off an addiction to smoking, alcohol, sex, gambling, or a host of other problems — but there may be a better way to go about it.

That’s not to say that the study’s findings should be ignored — in fact, if anything it should indicate that there all sorts of ways to battle an addiction, and many may find that sort of method to be helpful.

But it’s important to note that playing Tetris only reduced cravings by about 20 percent — so they’re still there, and if you suffer from it, you’ll need other tools at your disposal.

For one thing, you’ll need to get some addict buddies — think support group, Alcoholics Anonymous, or even therapy. It helps to not only have someone to talk through your problems with, but also someone who can hold you accountable.

Another way is to get a hobby — a real hobby, not playing Tetris. Find something that can occupy your time and cause you to daydream about something other than your addiction. Remember, you can’t eliminate an addiction without replacing it with something else — otherwise, you simply create a vacuum that is simply likely to get refilled by that addiction at some point.

Then there’s exercise. Working out and getting a sweat going can become addicting itself if you learn to enjoy it, and it is especially helpful in fighting the depression that many people suffer as a result of their addictions.

Then, of course, there’s distracting yourself — and that’s where a game like Tetris might come in. If you’re making good life changes, that may be enough, but when the feeling strikes, perhaps it’s time to reach for a quick game to fend it off. A few moments may mean the difference between staying clean and falling off the wagon.