Children and adolescents who survive firearm injuries face a multitude of challenges in the year following the incident, including increased pain, psychiatric disorders, and substance use disorders. This is according to a new study published in Health Affairs by researchers from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The study analyzed 15 years of data from employer-sponsored health insurance plans and compared the claims of 2,052 gun injury survivors to nearly 10,000 matched controls. The findings revealed alarming statistics: children and teens with firearm injuries experienced a 117% increase in pain disorders, a 68% increase in psychiatric disorders, and a 144% increase in substance use disorders compared to the control group. The psychiatric disorders included PTSD, anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
Not only were the survivors affected, but their families also experienced a significant impact on their mental health. Mothers of survivors saw a 30% increase in psychiatric disorders, while fathers experienced a 31% increase.
The study underscores the importance of providing mental health resources to both survivors and their families. Experts are emphasizing the long-lasting effects of gun injuries and the ongoing struggle for recovery. The study also revealed that claims for routine healthcare visits, imaging, and laboratory tests decreased among mothers of survivors, indicating that they may be neglecting their own healthcare needs due to the focus on their child’s recovery.
It is essential to note that the study only assessed the year before and after the firearm injury, but experts believe that the challenges and costs associated with the injuries likely continue beyond that timeframe. The study also highlighted the increased healthcare costs associated with firearm injuries, with survivors experiencing an average increase of $2,907 per month compared to those who experienced no injury.
However, the researchers acknowledge that the study’s limitations only focused on survivors with commercial health insurance, which does not represent the most vulnerable populations, like those with Medicaid or without insurance. Despite these limitations, experts stress that the study shines a light on the urgent need for prevention efforts to address firearm violence and reduce the physical, mental, and economic costs associated with it.
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