Treating youth violence in hospital and emergency department settings

Youth violence is a significant US public health problem and a leading cause of adolescent morbidity and mortality.¹ Homicide is the third leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 24 years and has been the leading cause of death among black youth for well over a decade.² Violently injured youth are at high risk for repeat injury; with recent data indicating that violent reinjury rates among urban youth treated in the emergency department (ED) are as high as 37%.³ Furthermore, these youth have high rates of involvement with severe and escalating forms of violence, with almost 60% reporting involvement with firearm violence as either a victim or aggressor within 2 years after receiving care for an assault injury.⁴