A new study led by MSU Social Work professor Anna Maria Santiago finds that teens in higher-violence neighborhoods start alcohol and tobacco earlier and at higher rates than their peers.

Using data from roughly 1,100 Latino/a and African American adolescents in Denver, CO, the team found heightened exposure to neighborhood violence increased the hazards of alcohol use initiation by 32% for all adolescents and 38% for adolescent males in particular.

The risk of starting tobacco use was about 36% higher overall and 30% to 50% higher in some groups, including African American teens.

“Adolescent alcohol and tobacco use have been linked to adverse preventable adolescent and adult behavioral and physical health outcomes over the life course,” said Santiago, with some of those negative outcomes include increased risky sexual behavior, sexual victimization, as well as dependency on those substances.