December 02, 2022
Firearm deaths surged to a 28-year high during 2021 as the U.S. continues to contend with a “firearm mortality epidemic,” according to a new report published in JAMA Network Open this week.
The new report examines federal data from the last 30 years and outlines the growing toll of firearm deaths in the U.S. The report notes that these deaths declined from the early 1990s through 2004, before rising in subsequent years and peaking during 2021.
“Firearm violence is a worsening problem in the United States, as health disparities have widened in recent years,” three University of Michigan researchers wrote in commentary accompanying the report.
Among the key takeaways:
“Only by counteracting the upstream and structural causes of firearm violence can we begin to curb the firearm mortality epidemic in the US for all people equally,” the Michigan researchers wrote.
Pennsylvania hospitals continue to focus on initiatives to address gun violence in their communities. This includes a commitment to hospital-based intervention programs that can make a difference and new approaches focused on prevention.
The JAMA report is available to review online.
Tags: Public Health | Gun Violence
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