Venkataramani AS, et al. - Through a quasi-experimental research design, the researchers intended to assess if college affirmative action bans have any impact on health risk behaviors among 35,000 high school students who belonged to an underrepresented minority (black, Hispanic, and Native American). Among underrepresented minority 11th and 12th graders, increased self-reported cigarette smoking was seen, corresponding with the years affirmative action bans were considered, qualified, and executed. Following affirmative action bans, a statistically nonsignificant increase in alcohol consumption was also noted. Further, via a separate study of over 71,000 underrepresented minority adults, those who were 16 years old (age a typical high school student enters the 11th grade) at the time an affirmative action ban were more inclined to be current smokers. Health risk behaviors were higher among underrepresented minority adolescents post-exposure to state-level college affirmative action bans. Meaningful population health consequences were observed after social policies that substituted socioeconomic opportunities.