The book describes the different risk behaviors, shows the linkages among them, explains the functions served by the various risk behaviors or the meanings they may have for the adolescent, examines how they vary with age, sex, and other demographic characteristics, demonstrates the influential role that the theoretical risk factors and protective factors play in adolescent risk behavior involvement. The research findings not only strengthen the theory, but they serve as an important guide to the design of intervention efforts to prevent or reduce adolescent involvement in risk behavior.

The emphasis of the authors on the need to strengthen protective factors that can promote positive development, and on the need to provide opportunities for behaviors that can serve the same purposes as risk behaviors do, but without compromising health and development, is salutary. This is the key challenge for all western contemporary societies to accomplish.