| Lethal means reduction: what have we learned? | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19623078 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Suicide is an important global public health problem. Across nations, suicide rates are linked to the availability of lethal means. Three methods dominate country-specific suicide rates: firearms, pesticides, and hanging. There is increasing international support for reducing the availability of lethal means to prevent suicide. This article reviews evidence regarding lethal means reduction as a suicide-prevention strategy. RECENT FINDINGS: Most evidence in support of means reduction comes from ecological studies examining the association between population-level decreases in the availability of a given lethal means of suicide and method-specific suicide rates. Substantial declines in method-specific suicide rates were shown following reductions in availability of lethal means through initiatives such as the passage of firearm control laws, detoxification of domestic gas, modification of drug packaging and toxicity, and installation of barriers at jump sites. The vast majority of the evidence for the effectiveness of lethal means reduction relates to reducing the availability of firearms and pesticides. SUMMARY: Implementing means reduction at both the population and individual levels poses many challenges, particularly when political issues arise during regulation of firearms or pesticides. Nevertheless, evidence strongly suggests that means reduction is effective and should be an important part of a suicide-prevention strategy. |
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Authors:
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Renee M Johnson; Tamera Coyne-Beasley |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Current opinion in pediatrics Volume: 21 ISSN: 1531-698X ISO Abbreviation: Curr. Opin. Pediatr. Publication Date: 2009 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-01-14 Completed Date: 2010-05-06 Revised Date: 2011-01-04 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9000850 Medline TA: Curr Opin Pediatr Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 635-40 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Cause of Death Child Humans Overdose Pesticides / poisoning Suicide / prevention & control*, psychology*, statistics & numerical data Wounds, Gunshot / mortality, prevention & control, psychology Young Adult |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
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L40 HD054057-02/HD/NICHD NIH HHS; T02 MC09378//PHS HHS |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Pesticides |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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