Gun Carrying Among Youths, by Demographic Characteristics, Associated Violence Experiences, and Risk Behaviors — United States, 2017–2019
This study used the updated measure of gun carrying in the 2017 and 2019 administrations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to describe the national prevalence of gun carrying for reasons other than hunting or sport among high school students younger than 18, and to examine the associations between gun carrying and having experienced violence, suicidal ideation or attempts, or substance use. Gun carrying during the previous 12 months was reported by 1 in 15 male students and 1 in 50 female students. Gun carrying was significantly more likely among youth who had experienced violence, suicidal ideation or attempts, or substance use. These results underscore the importance of comprehensive approaches to preventing youth violence and suicide, including strategies that focus on preventing youth substance use and gun carrying.
This paper, “Gun carrying among youths, by demographic characteristics, associated violence experiences, and risk behaviors — United States, 2017–2019,” was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the journal Morbidity and mortality weekly report (MMWR).
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