Young men who play violent video games are more likely to view alcohol and marijuana use as acceptable behavior, according to a new study.

Gamasutra reported April 12 that researchers studied male gamers ages 18-21 and concluded that playing violent video games can lead to negative health attitudes and behaviors.

Researchers Sonya Brady at the University of California at San Francisco and Karen Matthews of the University of Pittsburgh reported that violent gaming raised blood pressure and led to uncooperative behavior and permissive attitudes toward violence, alcohol use, marijuana use, and unsafe sex practices.

The study was published in the April 2006 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.