Although fear led many high school students to skip school and carry weapons to school, many teenagers were still hopeful and were determined to stop violence and crime. The survey also indicated that neighborhoods were not safe for many children and that 40 percent of teenagers physically fought with another person during the past year. About 35 percent of teenagers had seen or been in fights where weapons were involved, and many teenagers said it was easy to obtain drugs. Some teenagers said gangs played a major role in their neighborhoods, and teenagers who came from at-risk neighborhoods were more likely to report participation in or experience with violent behavior. Almost 9 in 10 teenagers were interested in participating in community programs to prevent crime and violence and indicated the need to improve relationships with the police. The evidence suggested, however, that teenagers needed more information about what could be done and how to do it.