PULLMAN, WA – A recent study using federal data from 2001 to 2022 has revealed a concerning trend: firearms have become the leading cause of death for 11- to 18-year-olds, surpassing motor vehicle collisions since 2017. The study, published in the journal Injury Epidemiology, highlights a significant increase in firearm deaths, from 1,945 in 2001 to 3,224 in 2022.
Dr. Elizabeth Weybright, an associate professor at Washington State University, explained the motivation behind focusing on middle and high school students. She emphasized the importance of understanding developmental stages, saying, “Those are really different people at different, very different developmental stages, and they are interacting with the world differently,” she said.
The study found that firearm-related homicide deaths are increasing in rural areas, traditionally associated with higher rates of firearm suicides. “We still do see that the number of firearm deaths due to suicide is higher than homicide, but homicide is starting to significantly increase,” said Weybright.
Weybright stressed the need for tailored prevention strategies, starting with middle school students. “When people read this, I would like them to take away that we cannot treat children and adolescents the same because the mechanism of injury and death is not the same,” she said.
The study underscores the importance of secure firearm storage and ongoing conversations about firearm safety. Weybright noted, “The secure storage approach would be storing a firearm unloaded, storing a firearm locked, and storing the ammunition separately.”
For parents, Weybright advised having open discussions with children about firearms, similar to conversations about alcohol or substance use. “Normalizing that conversation about firearm secure storage, what children do when they see a firearm, and what the rules are in the family and generally about firearms so everyone can be safe,” she said.
