Nearly half the high school students responding to a nationwide study on hazing say they have been subjected to rituals ranging from verbal abuse to serious crimes. The targets include members of virtually every group you might want to join.

Charles Sherrill reports from our exclusive Washington Bureau.

The victim of a high school hazing in Cache County several years ago says he took his case to court partly to help others who fear retribution for squealing on their assailants.

He has lots of company, according to a new study on high school hazing.

Charles Edmondson, President, Alfred University: "Indeed the study shows hazing to be so pervasive that it's impact may be almost as serious as that of alcohol and drug use."

The Alfred University study says 2-million teenagers a year are subjected to hazing, defined as humiliating, hazardous, or illegal conduct considered the price of acceptance by high school peers.

Charles Edmondson: "Every teenager in America is at risk of hazing."

An alleged assault by Viewmont High School upper classmen last year on younger students fits the pattern.

Jeff Reese, Witness to Hazing Incident: "They were like throwing eggs and rocks at people and shooting people with paintball guns and stuff."

But it often gets much more dangerous.

Nadine Hoover, Author of Study: "Some of them wrote in that high speed car chases, jumping off bridges, these kinds of behavior."

The researchers say blatantly illegal conduct is an increasingly common rite of passage.

Nadine Hoover: "There were also a lot of responses around rape, gang rape, and multiple sexual partners."

Some blame the media for blurring the line between right and wrong and desensitizing teens to violence.

Robert Myers, Study Co-author: "We cannot be surprised when students use hurtful behaviors they have seen elsewhere for group initiations."

Nor when they retaliate against those they blame for humiliating or rejecting them, say the researchers.

Norman Pollard, Study Co-author: "Many alienated teens have taken out their revenge violently on their fellow students and against the very schools that were supposed to keep them safe."

The study says it's folly to assume that any group is immune to hazing. It found, in fact, that the most violent incidents occurred among athletes, gangs and religious groups.