Washington, D.C.-- New data suggest that a decline in adolescent intentional injury rates in the United States are related to a change in the lethality of fighting methods, according to an article in the March 2001 Annals of Emergency Medicine, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians. ("Violent Injuries Among Adolescents: Declining Morbidity and Mortality in an Urban Population")

In a study, conducted in seven Washington, D.C. emergency departments and the Medical Examiner's office, researchers found that lethal weapon use among adolescents has decreased, although unarmed fighting continues at the same rate.

"This is one of the first studies to document trends in nonfatal injury rates among adolescents and to offer some clues into why intentional injury is on the decline," said Tina Cheng, MD, MPH, of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. "We hope that this study will lead to further research to understand fighting behavior and to identify effective prevention measures."

In the United States, homicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents 10 to 14 years old and the second cause of death for those 15 to 24 years old. For blacks, homicide is the leading cause of death for males and females 15 to 34 years old.

Researchers found that after age 12, homicide is the major cause of mortality in the District of Columbia and increases through adolescence. Data also support other reports that the violent injury epidemic starts before the high school years.

Decreases in assault and homicide were not accompanied by decreases in unintentional and self-inflicted injury, suggesting separate casual mechanisms. Weapon-related injury rates did decline, but it is unclear whether the decline was related to decreased weapon access, weapon carrying or use. It is possible that violence prevention efforts in the District of Columbia may have had an impact.

Annals of Emergency Medicine is the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians, a national medical organization with more than 22,000 members. ACEP is committed to improving the quality of emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, and a Government Services Chapter representing emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

---American College of Emergency Physicians

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