CDC: Youth homicide rate reaches 30-year-low
Youth homicide rates reached a 30-year low in 2010, according to a nationwide study released Thursday, although homicide still ranks as as a leading cause of death of young people and continues to decline at a rate slower than ever before.
According to the Centers for the Disease Control, homicide disproportionately affects youth 10 to 24 years old. The agency also found that homicide is much more likely among African-Americans and males, including by firearm.
CDC director Linda C. Degutis said she is encouraged by the findings, but the fine details show need for improvement.
"Our youth represent our future and one homicide is one too many. Comprehensive approaches that include evidence-based prevention strategies are essential to eliminate homicide as a leading cause of death of young people," she wrote in a press release.
Homicide has ranked in the top three most likely causes of untimely death in this age group for he past 30 years, along with unintentional injury (mostly motor vehicle accidents) and suicide, lead study author Dr. Corinne Ferdon said. In 2010, homicide ranked third below suicide and unintentional injury.
The CDC found that the homicide rate for young people spiked from 1985 to 1993 by 83 percent and has been declining since. That downward trend has been much slower in the past 10 years than it had been previously: From 1994 to 1999, the overall homicide rate decreased 41 percent, or from 15.2 per 100,000 in 1994 to 8.9 per 100,000 in 1999. Between 2000 and 2010, the nationwide homicide rate has been decreasing about 1 percent a year. In 2010, it was 7.5 per every 100,000.
In 2010, men and non-Hispanic blacks were much more likely to be killed by another person than whites or Hispanics: the youth homicide rate was 12.7 per 100,000 for males, 13.2 for youth ages 20 to 24 years, and 28.8 for non-Hispanic black youth.
"No matter what year we looked at, [these groups] always had the highest rate," Fendon, a behavioral scientist with the CDC, told CBSNews.com. "Their rates of homicide have gone down just like their peers, but what was seen is that their rates of decline are slower than their peers."
Nearly 80 percent of all homicides during the 30-year study period were caused by a firearm, as opposed to stabbing or other methods. The study did not differentiate between types of firearms.
Fendon said the study did not determine why some groups were more at risk for deadly violence than others. Youth, however, are particularly vulnerable when they have issues academically, mix with the wrong group of friends, have limited adult supervision or even are encouraged by their relatives.
"There is not one cause for a young person to get involved in violence," Fendon said. "When we look at solution, there's not just one. That's why we look at comprehensive approach."
By "comprehensive," Fendon said she means a well-rounded community-based program. She and the study's researchers have found that school-based programs that build communication and problem-solving skills, as well as encouraging parents and family to be more involved in their kids' lives (i.e family dinners), are effective solutions.
"When young people have frequent activities with their parents and with kids who make good choices, we know they are low risk for violence," she said.
The study did not look at gun control or gun policy.