This study attempts to develop further insight into the initiation and continuance of antisocial behavior during adolescence using a "launch" perspective in conjunction with several risk/protective factor measures from prior research on substance use and delinquency. Data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) were analyzed using multilevel latent growth curve models across three waves for three age cohorts (n = 2,130 youth; 78 neighborhoods). After considering typical trends and their variation, the relationships between covariates and different characteristics of the growth curves were analyzed. Implications of the findings for understanding developmental trends and prevention strategy are considered.