Youth Violence Within the Lowell Community

University of Massachusetts Lowell, School of Health and Environment • December 16, 2011

BACKGROUND drive without caution and carry weapons (Medline Plus). Youth violence is an important problem There are many types of violence that affect today and is a major problem in the United youth; such as domestic violence, physical States. In 2007, nearly 6,000 young adults violence and bullying at school. According (ages 10 to 24) were murdered – which to the CDC, intimate partner violence results averaged to 16 per day. Juveniles accounted in 2 million injuries among women, an for 16% of all violent crime arrests in 2009, estimated 1,200 deaths and around 600,000 while homicide is the second leading cause injuries among men. of death for youths ages 10-24. Violence can also occur within relationships, in a survey Youth violence can hinder a person from distributed nationwide by the CDC, 9.8% of prospering and being an active member in high school students reported that they have their community. Adolescents who been hit, physically hurt, or slapped on experienced physical dating violence are purpose by their significant other within the more likely to engage in risky behaviors past year. Within homicide victims between such as substance abuse, unhealthy weight the ages of 10 to 24 years old, 84% were control, risky sexual behaviors and attempt killed with a firearm (CDC). or consider suicide (CDC).

School related violence is also nothing to be It is important to monitor the experiences taken lightly. Between the years 1996 and that youths are going through in Lowell. By 2006, school associated homicides included focusing on this specific group, we were stabbing/cutting (27%), gunshot wounds able to see what areas required the most (65%) and beating (12%) (CDC). Just nine attention and how to prevent violence from years ago in 2002, more than 877,000 occurring in the future. In the state of adolescents aged from 10-24 were injured Massachusetts, there were 5,983 reported from violence, and on average 1 out of every assault cases from the years 2001 to 2007 13 of those injured required hospitalization affecting ages 15-24. Lowell accounted for (CDC). More focus should be placed on 2% of the 5,983 reported cases (MassChip). school violence, as well as how it affects adolescents today. The focus of this study is to investigate the There are many other factors in violence, patterns of youth violence in Lowell, other than just fighting and physical Massachusetts. In order to create programs violence. Violence can include bullying in to prevent youth violence, it is crucial to person, over the internet, threatening know what types of violence are taking someone and forcing someone to do place. something against their will. Often times, REFERENCES adolescents that carry out violent acts are also linked to risky and criminal behavior, 1. M.C. Black, and M.J. Breiding. such as drug use, have unprotected sex, February 8, 2008. Adverse Health Conditions and Health Risk Behaviors http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/ Associated with Intimate Partner pdf/yv-datasheet-a.pdf Violence --- United States, 2005. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and 5. October 7, 2010. Injury Center: Prevention. Retrieved October 21, 2011, Violence Prevention. Centers for from Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mm Retrieved November 9, 2011, from wrhtml http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/ intimatepartnerviolence/teen_dating_viol 2. Teen Violence Statistics - Teen ence.html Violence. (n.d.). 2011. Teen Help - Advice for Parents and Teens. Retrieved 6. Teen Violence. MedlinePlus. October 21, 2011, from Retrieved November 9, 2011 from http://www.teenhelp.com/teen- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tee violence/teen-violence-statistics.html nviolence.html

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