On average, 15 Americans between the ages of 15 and 24 were murdered each day in 2001. The 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that more than a third of teenagers attending school in 2003 had been in a physical fight at least once in the previous year, 17 percent of teenagers carried a weapon, and 6 percent carried a gun at least once in the month prior to the survey. Nine percent experienced dating violence during 2003. All told, teens experience the highest rate of violent-crime victimization relative to all other age groups.

These sobering statistics introduce a new seminar series produced by the MMS Committee on Violence -- Recognizing and Preventing Youth Violence. The slides highlight the crucial role for health care professionals in addressing community violence with patients, a role cited in a 2004 study in Pediatrics. The study indicated that 56 percent of parents believed that their children's pediatrician should discuss community violence with them, but only 10 percent of pediatricians did so.

The seminar series is based on the committee's popular guidebook of the same name. It's designed for physicians and other health care professionals, but teachers, law enforcement officials, or others who work with youth will find it useful.

The purpose of the series is as follows:

• To provide basic facts about youth violence
• To describe risk factors and appropriate assessments
• To suggest clinical approaches to prevention and intervention

The 70-plus slides and lecture notes in the series cover the epidemiology of violence, primary prevention, taking a violence history, preventing re-injury, and working with special populations.

Starting in January 2005, you'll be able to download the seminar series at no charge from the MMS website at www.massmed.org.

- Robyn Alie