Impact of location to teens engaging in risky behavior

Where teens hang out affects how likely they are to engage in risky behavior. By using GPS-enabled smartphones to track 16- to 17-year-olds and checking their behavior via text messages, investigators confirmed that adolescents are far more likely to drink alcohol when their activities center around commercial areas where alcoholic drinks are available than when they confine their activities to residential areas. Similarly, marijuana use is related to spending time in areas of low socioeconomic status (Byrnes HF, et al. J Adolesc Health. 2015;57[2]:245-247). 

Ms Freedman is a freelance medical editor and writer in New Jersey. She has nothing to disclose in regard to affiliations with or financial interests in any organizations that may have an interest in any part of this article.