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Epidemiology of Adolescent Gun Violence: The Parallel Tragedies of Rural Suicide and Urban Homicide

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Adolescent Gun Violence Prevention

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Abstract

Gun violence is a public health crisis plaguing the United States, deeply affecting individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole—a crisis that is garnering increasing attention in public and political discourse. In order to better understand and thus mitigate the effects of gun violence, it is vital to understand where it is happening and why. The United States suffers from uniquely high rates of gun violence compared to other developed nations, and adolescents shoulder a disproportionately large share of morbidity and mortality. The adolescent gun violence epidemic is characterized by two parallel tragedies: gun homicide deaths among boys in urban areas and gun suicide deaths among teen boys in rural areas. By understanding the epidemiology of gun violence and the most vulnerable populations it affects, the United States can move toward thoughtful policies and solutions to decrease the devastation it brings to the children and families of the United States.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oncology, and Cellular therapy at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY, USA

    Kristen Ronca

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY, USA

    Nancy A. Dodson

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Ronca, K. (2021). Epidemiology of Adolescent Gun Violence: The Parallel Tragedies of Rural Suicide and Urban Homicide. In: Dodson, N.A. (eds) Adolescent Gun Violence Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84710-4_1

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