U.S. News & World Report (1/17, Galvin) reports a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests “the share of households that have guns is the single strongest predictor of how many young people commit suicide in a state.” CDC data show that nearly 45,000 used guns to commit suicide in 2015 and 2016, and “more than 2,000 of those deaths were among people ages 10 to 19, with 42 percent of youth suicides involving guns.” According to the report, “an average of 52.5 percent of households owned guns in the 10 states with the highest youth suicide rates, while just 20 percent of households owned guns, on average, in the 10 states with the lowest youth suicide rates.” The study found that “overall, the youth suicide rate rose about 27 percent with each 10 percentage-point increase in household gun ownership.”
Editorial Warns Of Risks Associated With Dementia, Gun Ownership. A Bloomberg Opinion (1/16) editorial discusses the potential risks associated with gun ownership among older adults with age-related dementia. Bloomberg argues, “to prevent tragedy, society must take steps to keep lethal weapons away from those who put themselves or others at risk.” Bloomberg also suggests physicians discuss gun ownership with family members of patients with dementia.
Related Links:
— “Youth Suicide Rates Higher in States With More Guns, “Gaby Galvin, U.S. News & World Report, January 17, 2019