PULLMAN, Wash. - Firearm-related deaths are rising dramatically among high school youth, according to a new study led by Washington State University researchers.
Using federal data spanning 2001 to 2022, the researchers uncovered trends in firearm deaths for 11- to 18-year-olds in rural and urban settings. They discovered that since 2017, firearms have surpassed motor vehicle collisions as the leading cause of mortality for that age group, spiking from 1,945 deaths in 2001 to 3,224 deaths in 2022. The paper, published in the journal Injury Epidemiology, helps fill a key knowledge gap in the previous research, which often compounded firearm death trends for youth of all ages.
"While that data was interesting and informative, high schoolers are very different from toddlers," said Elizabeth Weybright, associate professor and adolescent Extension specialist in WSU's Department of Human Development and the paper's corresponding author. "When data for children and adolescents is combined, we're missing key information that can help us prevent firearm injury and death. It seems practical to focus on middle school and high school adolescents and where they live."
The researchers found that high schoolers (ages 14 to 18) are at an exceptionally elevated risk for firearm injury and firearm-related deaths compared to youth in other age groups, regardless of geographical setting. The data showed that firearms are the leading cause of death for urban high schoolers, surpassing motor vehicle collisions earlier than previously reported. Though motor vehicle collisions are still the leading cause of death for rural high schoolers, they are decreasing, while firearm deaths are becoming more common.
Firearm deaths due to homicide have increased by more than 362% among rural high schoolers since 2001, though suicide is still the No. 1 cause of firearm death for both high schoolers and middle schoolers in rural locations. Meanwhile, homicides are the leading cause of firearm deaths for urban high schoolers, surging more than 127% from a 2013 low.
"Across rural and urban settings, we're seeing quite an increase in firearm-related homicides for high schoolers," Weybright said. "These findings contribute significantly to our knowledge of what's actually happening."
The study suggests that adapting firearm safety guidance to developmental stage could be crucial to saving lives.
"Often, the support and guidance we give parents about safe firearm storage isn't tailored by youth developmental stage," Weybright said. "As a child starts to age and have more autonomy, that could be a time to revisit firearm safety practices and provide different types of messaging."
She envisions a revised, more comprehensive approach when it comes to rural communities, which have seen a significant uptick in firearm-related homicides among youth.
"We talk a lot about youth suicide risk in rural areas and less about the risk for homicide," Weybright said. "This study highlights that we need interventions for both."
Other authors on the study include WSU Research Associate Heather Terral, Kelsey Conrick and Ali Rowhani-Rahbar of the University of Washington, and Patrick Carter of the University of Michigan.
Weybright hopes additional grant funding will help the researchers continue their work to determine the most feasible types of messaging for youth and families in rural and urban settings. "The more we can use research to inform effective interventions, the more we are moving in the right direction," Weybright said. "What's key is approaching this from a place of respect. I'm not here to change what's important to someone. My biggest motivation is to understand context and keep people safe."
