Suicide, Firearms, and Data

Abstract

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article LettersFull AccessSuicide, Firearms, and DataAndrew L. Brickman, Ph.D., and Devra C. Mintz, M.D., M.P.H.Andrew L. BrickmanSearch for more papers by this author, Ph.D., and Devra C. MintzSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., M.P.H.Published Online:1 May 2003https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.54.5.749AboutSectionsView EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail In Reply: We thank Dr. Berg for raising the issue of firearm availability in the interpretation of self-inflicted injury rates. In our Datapoints column, we intentionally made no reference to firearm availability as a factor contributing to the rise in self-inflicted injuries in the United States.During the six-year period between 1993 and 1998, the rate of suicide by firearm dropped by approximately 15 percent, while the rate of firearm-related homicides fell by 42 percent and the rate of unintentional firearm-related deaths fell by 47 percent. During the same period, the rate of nonfatal suicide attempts by firearm declined by 48 percent, compared with a 49 percent decrease in the rate of firearm-related assaults and a 37 percent decrease in unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries (1). Given these data, it is safe to assume that the overall increase in self-inflicted injuries seen during this period in U.S. emergency departments was not due to an increase in firearm-related injuries. Furthermore, although we agree with Dr. Berg that firearm availability in the home has been shown to be associated with self-inflicted harm (2), domestic rifle and handgun sales have been decreasing over the past decade (3).Firearm-related injury remains a serious public health burden, accounting in 1998 for 31,000 deaths and 64,500 nonfatal injuries treated in hospital emergency departments (1). However, firearm-related injuries do not account for the increasing rate of self-inflicted injuries seen in emergency departments.