JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH 1992;13:447
e
ic
As the spectre of an epidemic of AIDS or of a new virulent strain of tuberculosis in adolescents appropriately captures our collective concern, the fact that the deadliest of all plagues has already descended upon the youth of this nation has receirmd scant attention from physicians. The fastest growir ~gcause of death among high-school aged youth in the U.S. is gunshot wounds. For 15-19-year-olds firearms are now the second leading cause of death, with a rate in excess of 20/100,000. Although the inner city remains hardest hit, the rate is climbing rapidly in suburbia. Although black males are most vulnerable, the rate of rise in gunshot deaths has been greatest among white men and women in the inner city. The ubiquity of violence in this country demands action from all of its citizens. As health care professionals dedicated to improving the health of adoles-
S
cents, we have an added responsibility in addressing this epidemic. As a Society created to roster research to better inform the delivery of health care to and to be an advocate for youth, we are obligated to act. Just as the American Academy of Pediatrics made reduction of death and injury from automotive accidents their priority, the Society for Adolescent Medicine is well-positioned to target firearms in the 90’s. In this issue of the Journal are two thoughtful studies that address the way anger is acknowledged and managed and the particular vulnerability of pregnant adolescents to its impact. We welcome such research reports in order to stimulate further investigation in this critical area.
6 Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1992 Published by Elsevier Science Publishing Co.. Inc., 655 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10010
Iris F. Litt, M.D. Editor-In-Chief
447
ln54-139w9u$5.00
e
ic
As the spectre of an epidemic of AIDS or of a new virulent strain of tuberculosis in adolescents appropriately captures our collective concern, the fact that the deadliest of all plagues has already descended upon the youth of this nation has receirmd scant attention from physicians. The fastest growir ~gcause of death among high-school aged youth in the U.S. is gunshot wounds. For 15-19-year-olds firearms are now the second leading cause of death, with a rate in excess of 20/100,000. Although the inner city remains hardest hit, the rate is climbing rapidly in suburbia. Although black males are most vulnerable, the rate of rise in gunshot deaths has been greatest among white men and women in the inner city. The ubiquity of violence in this country demands action from all of its citizens. As health care professionals dedicated to improving the health of adoles-
S
cents, we have an added responsibility in addressing this epidemic. As a Society created to roster research to better inform the delivery of health care to and to be an advocate for youth, we are obligated to act. Just as the American Academy of Pediatrics made reduction of death and injury from automotive accidents their priority, the Society for Adolescent Medicine is well-positioned to target firearms in the 90’s. In this issue of the Journal are two thoughtful studies that address the way anger is acknowledged and managed and the particular vulnerability of pregnant adolescents to its impact. We welcome such research reports in order to stimulate further investigation in this critical area.
6 Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1992 Published by Elsevier Science Publishing Co.. Inc., 655 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10010
Iris F. Litt, M.D. Editor-In-Chief
447
ln54-139w9u$5.00
