Understanding the service needs of assault-injured, drug-using youth presenting for care in an urban Emergency Department.

Background: Violence is a leading cause of injury among youth 15-24years and is frequently associated with drug use. To inform optimal violence interventions, it is critical to understand the baseline characteristics and intent to retaliate of drug-using, assault-injured (AI) youth in the Emergency Department (ED) setting, where care for violent injury commonly occurs.

Methods: At an urban ED, AI youth ages 14-24 endorsing any past six-month substance use (n=350), and a proportionally-sampled substance-using comparison group (CG) presenting for non-assault-related care (n=250), were recruited and completed a baseline assessment (82% participation).

Violent reinjury and mortality among youth seeking emergency department care for assault-related injury: a 2-year prospective cohort study.

Importance: Violence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among youth, with more than 700000 emergency department (ED) visits annually for assault-related injuries. The risk for violent reinjury among high-risk, assault-injured youth is poorly understood.

Objective: To compare recidivism for violent injury and mortality outcomes among drug-using, assault-injured youth (AI group) and drug-using, non-assault-injured control participants (non-AI group) presenting to an urban ED for care.

Prevalence and correlates of HIV risk among adolescents and young adults reporting drug use: Data from an urban Emergency Department in the U.S.

Adolescents and young adults who use substances are at particularly high risk for contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The Emergency Department (ED) is a critical location for HIV prevention for at-risk youth. To inform future interventions in the ED, this study identifies correlates of HIV risk behaviors among substance using youth seeking ED care.

Comparing the effects of age, BMI and gender on severe injury (AIS 3+) in motor-vehicle crashes.

Background: The effects of age, body mass index (BMI) and gender on motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries are not well understood and current prevention efforts do not effectively address variability in occupant characteristics.

Objectives: (1) Characterize the effects of age, BMI and gender on serious-to-fatal MVC injury. (2) Identify the crash modes and body regions where the effects of occupant characteristics on the numbers of occupants with injury is largest, and thereby aid in prioritizing the need for human surrogates that represent different types of occupant characteristics and adaptive restraint systems that consider these characteristics.

Distal and proximal factors associated with aggression towards partners and non-partners among patients in substance abuse treatment.

Studies of violence in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment settings typically focus on partner aggression (PA) although non-partner aggression (NPA) is also a common problem. This study examines potentially distinct paths of distal and proximal risk factors related to aggression towards non-partners (NPA) and partners (PA) among a SUD treatment sample. The sample included 176 adults reporting past-year violence.

Intimate partner violence victimization: identification and response in primary care.

In the United States more than 1 out of 3 women experiences lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Short screening instruments such as HITS or the AAS can identify IPV victimization. Nonjudgmental statements that validate an IPV victim's experience should be followed by safety assessment and planning.

Potential distractions and unsafe driving behaviors among drivers of 1- to 12-year-old children.

Objective: Driver distraction has been identified as a threat to individual drivers and public health. Motor vehicle collisions remain a leading cause of death for children, yet little is known about distractions among drivers of children. This study sought to characterize potential distractions among drivers of children.

Social norms and risk perception: predictors of distracted driving behavior among novice adolescent drivers.

Purpose: Adolescent drivers are at elevated crash risk due to distracted driving behavior (DDB). Understanding parental and peer influences on adolescent DDB may aid future efforts to decrease crash risk. We examined the influence of risk perception, sensation seeking, as well as descriptive and injunctive social norms on adolescent DDB using the theory of normative social behavior.

Characteristics of youth seeking emergency care for assault injuries.

Objective: To characterize youth seeking care for assault injuries, the context of violence, and previous emergency department (ED) service utilization to inform ED-based injury prevention.

Methods: A consecutive sample of youth (14-24) presenting to an urban ED with an assault injury completed a survey of partner violence, gun/knife victimization, gang membership, and context of the fight.

Results: A total of 925 youth entered the ED with an assault injury; 718 completed the survey (15.

Event-level analysis of antecedents for youth violence: comparison of dating violence with non-dating violence.

Background: Dating violence (DV) has emerged as a major concern among youth with links to substance use, injuries, and death. The emergency department (ED) provides an opportunity for violence screening and prevention interventions. Additional data are needed regarding antecedents of DV versus non-dating violence (NDV; e.

The geography of violence, alcohol outlets, and drug arrests in Boston.

Objectives: We examined the relationship between alcohol outlets, drug markets (approximated by arrests for possession and trafficking), and violence in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2006. We analyzed geographic and environmental versus individual factors related to violence and identified areas high in violent crime.

Methods: We used data from the Boston Police Department, US Census, and Massachusetts State Alcohol Beverage Control Commission.