Neighborhoods Study

About the Project

This project explores how neighborhood conditions—like safety, poverty, and community disinvestment—shape substance use and recovery across adolescence and young adulthood among youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Using 16 years of data from a large longitudinal study of juvenile detainees, the research examines how chronic exposure to neighborhood disadvantage affects the development of substance use disorders over time. The study recognizes that these challenges do not occur in isolation—families living in under-resourced neighborhoods face structural barriers that can limit access to care and opportunity. By uncovering how neighborhood environments influence risk and resilience, this project aims to identify community-level levers for change, such as improving neighborhood safety, increasing access to supportive services, and investing in stable, resource-rich environments. Ultimately, the goal is to inform strategies that help families and youth thrive by addressing the conditions in which they live.