Gun Deaths Among High Schoolers on the Rise
A study led by Washington State University researchers found a dramatic increase in firearm-related deaths among middle- and high school-aged youth.
Nationwide, high schoolers ages 14 to 18 are at an exceptionally elevated risk for gun-inflicted injury and death compared to children in other age groups in both rural and urban settings.
- Firearms have surpassed motor vehicle collisions as the leading cause of mortality for youth ages 11 to 18 since 2017.
- Gun-related deaths among youth ages 11 to 18 increased from 1,945 in 2001 to 3,224 in 2022.
“These findings contribute significantly to our knowledge of what’s actually happening,”
said Elizabeth Weybright, associate professor and adolescent extension specialist in Washington State University’s department of human development and the paper’s co-author.
The study, published in the journal Injury Epidemiology, helps fill a key gap in previous research.
Author's summary: Gun deaths among high schoolers are rising rapidly nationwide.