Rates and correlates of risky firearm behaviors among adolescents and young adults treated in an urban emergency department

Carter, Patrick M.; Mouch, Charles A.; Goldstick, Jason E.; Walton, Maureen A.; Zimmerman, Marc A.; Resnicow, Ken; Cunningham, Rebecca M.

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105891

Cited by 43 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 141 publications

(194 reference statements)

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“…36 Accessibility to a firearm has been proved to increase risks of suicide 45 and firearmrelated incidents. [46][47][48] Due to the use of retrospective databases, this study is subject to several limitations including coding errors, missing data, and reporting bias. With regard to COVID-19 data, because of limited availability of testing in the US until relatively recently, COVID-19 confirmed cases and COVID-19 deaths are certainly underestimated, but to an unknown degree.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New York State and the Nation: Trends in Firearm Purchases and Firearm Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Donnelly¹,

Barie

Grigorian³

et al. 2020

The American Surgeon™

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Background The impacts of social stressors on violence during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are unknown. We hypothesized that firearm purchases and violence would increase surrounding the pandemic. This study determined the impact of COVID-19 and shelter-in-place (SIP) orders on firearm purchases and incidents in the United States (US) and New York State (NYS). Methods Scatterplots reflected trends in firearm purchases, incidents, and deaths over a 16-month period (January 2019 to April 2020). Bivariate comparisons of SIP and non-SIP jurisdictions before and after SIP (February 2020 vs. April 2020) and April 2020 vs. April 2019 were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results The incidence of COVID-19 in the US increased between February and April 2020 from 24 to 1 067 660 and in NYS from 0 to 304 372. When comparing February to March to April in the US, firearm purchases increased 33.6% then decreased 22.0%, whereas firearm incidents increased 12.2% then again increased by 3.6% and firearm deaths increased 23.8% then decreased in April by 3.8%. In NYS, comparing February to March to April 2020, firearm purchases increased 87.6% then decreased 54.8%, firearm incidents increased 110.1% then decreased 30.8%, and firearm deaths increased 57.1% then again increased by 6.1%. In both SIP and non-SIP jurisdictions, April 2020 firearm purchases, incidents, deaths, and injuries were similar to April 2019 and February 2020 (all P = NS). Discussion Coronavirus disease 2019–related stressors may have triggered an increase in firearm purchases nationally and within NYS in March 2020. Firearm incidents also increased in NYS. SIP orders had no effect on firearm purchases and firearm violence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New York State and the Nation: Trends in Firearm Purchases and Firearm Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Donnelly¹,

Barie

Grigorian³

et al. 2020

The American Surgeon™

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“…Furthermore, our results indicate that adolescents who self-identified as non-Hispanic Whites were significantly more likely to carry weapons than their non-White counterparts. Some studies have shown that minorities, including Black/African American and Hispanic adolescents, are more likely to carry weapons and engage in delinquent or violent acts than non-Hispanic White counterparts ( Carter et al, 2020 ; Muula et al, 2008 ; Spano, 2012 ; Williams et al, 2007 ) . Further, there is even strong evidence to show that Black/African American adolescents are at a significantly higher risk of violent death by firearms compared to Whites in the US ( Ertl et al, 2019 ; Khubchandani & Price, 2018b ; Lemaire, 2005 ; Price & Khubchandani, 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other studies have also found that adolescent substance use factors such as cigarette smoking ( Khubchandani & Price, 2018a ), cannabis use ( Orpinas et al, 2017 ; Stayton et al, 2011 ), and illicit drug use ( Carter et al, 2013 ) to be associated with weapon carrying. Mental health factors such as depression and anxiety ( Abaya et al, 2019 ; Carter et al, 2015 , 2020 ; Kim, 2018 ), suicidal behaviors ( Romero et al, 2017 ), conduct disorders ( Barkley et al, 2004 ), and sleep deficit ( Hildenbrand et al, 2013 ; Meldrum et al, 2020 ; Umlauf et al, 2011 ) have also been found to be associated with weapon carrying.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other scholars have noted sex differences in the choice of weapon, with adolescent females more likely to carry knives or mace than guns ( Erickson et al, 2006 ). Studies have also found a significant association between race/ethnicity and weapon carrying among adolescents ( Carter et al, 2020 ; Muula et al, 2008 ; Williams et al, 2007 ). Adolescents who self-identified as sexual minorities are also more likely to carry a weapon when compared to their heterosexual counterparts ( Button & Worthen, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Baiden

Jahan

Onyeaka

et al. 2021

SSM - Population Health

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Background Although studies have investigated the association between alcohol use and violent behaviors such as weapon carrying, few studies have examined the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon-carrying among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents. Methods Data for this study came from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 13,442 adolescents aged 14–18 years old (51% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated in this study was weapon carrying during the past 30 days, and the main explanatory variable investigated was age at first alcohol use. Results Of the 13,442 adolescents, 13.5% carried a weapon during the past 30 days, and 15.4% reported having their first alcoholic drink before age 13. In the multivariable logistic regression, adolescents who reported having alcohol before age 13 had more than double the odds of carrying a weapon when compared to those who never had alcohol before age 13 (AOR = 2.32, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.87-2.89). Other significant factors associated with weapon carrying include male gender, victim of bullying, teen dating violence, sexual violence, suicidal ideation, and history of substance use. Adolescents who self-identified as Black/African American or Hispanic were significantly less likely to carry a weapon when compared to adolescents who self-identified as non-Hispanic White. Conclusion The findings of this study underscore the importance of developing age appropriate intervention strategies to curb early initiation of alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents.

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“…Existing evidence about home access and storage of firearms is largely about adults 11,12 or specific adolescent subpopulations, 13 such as those seen in emergency departments. 10,14 The purpose with this study was to (1) examine the population prevalence of perception of handgun access among adolescents in Colorado and (2) explore individual and geographic characteristics, as well as related health factors, associated with perceptions of handgun access. Understanding youth perceptions about ease of access has implication for injury prevention efforts related to reducing legal or illegal firearm access.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Access to Handguns Among Colorado High School Students

Brooks‐Russell

Brummett

et al. 2021

Pediatrics

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OBJECTIVES: Access to firearms among youth can increase the risk of suicide or other injury. In this study, we sought to estimate the population prevalence of adolescent perception of firearm access by demographic, geographic, and other individual health characteristics. METHODS:The 2019 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey was an anonymous survey administered to a representative sample of high school students in Colorado. The survey was used to assess health behaviors and risk and protective factors. Analysis was conducted with weights to the state population of public high school students.RESULTS: In total, 46 537 high school students responded (71% student response rate; 83% school response rate). One in 5 students said it was "sort of easy" (11.1%) or "very easy" (8.8%) to access a handgun, with higher prevalence among male and older-aged youth and differences in racial and/or ethnicity groups. There were geographic differences such that students in schools in more rural areas were more likely to report perceived easy access. Students who had felt sad or hopeless, attempted suicide, or been in a fight were more likely to say they had access to a handgun. CONCLUSIONS:A relatively high proportion of youth have easy access to a firearm, with differences across age, sex, race and/or ethnicity, and geography. This highlights the need for efforts to address ways to reduce firearm access for youth, including secure storage at home, for the prevention of youth firearm suicide and other firearm injuries.WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents, and firearms are implicated in a majority of those deaths. Safe storage of firearms can prevent adolescent suicide, homicide, and unintentional firearm injuries and deaths.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: In a representative sample of high school students in Colorado, 20% reported easy access to a handgun. Students with mental health concerns or who had been in a fight were more likely to say they could access a handgun.

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Rates and correlates of risky firearm behaviors among adolescents and young adults treated in an urban emergency department

Cited by 43 publications

References 141 publications

New York State and the Nation: Trends in Firearm Purchases and Firearm Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

New York State and the Nation: Trends in Firearm Purchases and Firearm Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Perceived Access to Handguns Among Colorado High School Students

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