Citation

Graham PM, Weingarden SI. J. Adolesc. Health Care 1989; 10(6): 534-536.

Affiliation

Southeastern Michigan Spinal Cord Injury System Rehabilitation Institute, Detroit 48201.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2606753

Abstract

Interpersonal violence with a handgun is the primary cause of spinal cord injuries (SCI) among teenagers in the population served by the Southeastern Michigan Spinal Cord Injury System (SEMSCIS). As part of a community-wide effort to reduce the injury and death rate from acts of violence, SEMSCIS selected the victim, rather than the perpetrator or the sociocultural environment, as its segment of a prevention program. A retrospective study of demographic data, causal statements, medical information from the medical records of 36 injured adolescents, and telephone conversations with the victims identified "risk taking" as the pre-event behavior that had made them vulnerable to violence. This study led to the production of a powerful video, "Wasted Dreams," in which disabled teenagers tell their peers about their injury and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Language: en