Gangs are present in large and small cities in nearly every state, and their members come from a range of ethnic and racial groups. They stake claims to turf not only on city streets but in shopping malls, skating rinks, and school corridors. Gangs use graffiti and "tagging" to mark that turf and to send news and messages to other gangs and gang members. Young women have their own gangs, and fights between female gangs are common. In some gangs females fight alongside males. For many street gangs, drug selling has become a major means of making money. A few gangs have ties to adult organized crime groups.

This scene from Boyz N The Hood (1991), about three black teens growing up among gangs, shows actor Ice Cube in a convertible and teens crowding the streets of South Central Los Angeles.

Drug and Alcohol Use Among Youth Gangs