Teenagers who are treated in emergency rooms for assaults are more likely to be involved in subsequent violence, according to a new study from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Dr. Douglas Wiebe and his colleagues followed 42 patients who had been treated in emergency rooms for assaults and found that 18% had been beaten up, 21% beat up someone else, 3% had shot or stabbed someone, and 3% had been shot or stabbed within two months of the first incidents.
"Violence among urban adolescence is common," said Dr. Wiebe, "and emergency department is one of the few places adolescents may have contact with the health system. It may be possible to intervene at that point and improve their chances for safe living in the future."
This study was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting.
Labels: violence
Posted By: Jane St. Clair