Firearm Possession Among Adolescents Presenting to an Urban Emergency Department for Assault

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Firearm violence is a leading cause of death among youth. The objectives of this study were (1) determine firearm possession rates and associated correlates among youth seeking care for assault in an emergency department (ED); (2) understand differences in risk factors for youth with firearm possession; and (3) identify firearm possession characteristics in this population: type, reason for possession, and source of firearms. METHODS Youth (14 to 24 years old) presenting to a Level 1 ED with assault were administered a computerized screening survey. Validated instruments were administered, measuring demographics, firearm rates and characteristics, attitudes toward aggression, substance use, and previous violence history. RESULTS Among 689 assault-injured youth, 23% reported firearm possession in the past 6 months. Only 17% of those reporting firearm possession obtained the gun from a legal source; 22% reported ownership of highly lethal automatic/semiautomatic weapons and 37.1% reported having a firearm for protection. Logistic regression analysis identified significant correlates of firearm possession, including male gender, higher socioeconomic status, illicit drug use, recent serious fight, and retaliatory attitudes. CONCLUSIONS ED assault-injured youth had high rates of firearm possession (23.1%), most of which were not obtained from legal sources. Youth with firearm possession were more likely to have been in a recent serious fight, and to endorse aggressive attitudes that increase their risk for retaliatory violence. Future prevention efforts should focus on minimizing illegal firearm access among high-risk youth, nonviolent alternatives to retaliatory violence, and substance use prevention.

Empowering the affected: Informing community-based solutions through interviews with survivors of interpersonal firearm violence—Perspectives of survivors of firearm injuries

“…6 Previous works indicate that efforts for youth should also include substance abuse prevention and teaching them nonviolent conflict mediation methods. 7 Participants in this study heavily emphasized that the responsibility to take initiative and create outreach programs lies with communities and is essential to combat and reduce ongoing firearm violence, 8 a point consistent with previous research. To be successful, these programs have to be inclusive, allowing collaboration from local law enforcement agencies and trauma centers (or medical centers).…”

“…Having required background checks would make it more difficult to obtain firearms and reduce associated mortality. 7,10 Any initiative that will be undertaken by trauma surgeons and trauma centers need to address the fundamental differences that exist between community members and surgeons. Surgeons are more likely to be White (as compared with survivors who were more mostly African American).…”

United States Emergency Department Screening for Drug Use Among Assault-Injured Individuals: A Systematic Review

“…22 The journal categories of the 26 studies included the following: substance use/addiction (10/26); pediatrics (6/26); emergency medicine (5/26); public health (3/26); and medicine (2/26). Seventeen studies were funded by the NIDA, 15,16,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] 13 by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, [22][23][24][25]30,32,35,[37][38][39][40][41] eight by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 16,[25][26][27]29,31,34,42,43 one by the National Institute of Mental Health, 21 one by the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 44 and one was not listed. 45 Fourteen studies were cross-sectional.…”

“…45 Fourteen studies were cross-sectional. 16,[23][24][25]27,28,33,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42] nine were retrospective cohort, 22,26,[29][30][31][32]34,35,45 two were prospective cohort, 5,44 and one was a case-control. 21…”

Experiencing Bullying Is Associated With Firearm Access, Weapon Carriage, Depression, Marijuana Use, and Justice Involvement in Adolescents

“…[8][9][10] In addition, about one quarter of assault-injured youths report possession of firearms. 11 For these reasons, identifying those at risk and intervening early, perhaps even before a violent assault occurs, is crucial.…”