Adolescent risk-takers: a trauma center study of suicide attempters and drivers

Adolescence is a developmental stage characterized by excessive risk-taking behavior that produces adverse health effects, typically in the form of injury. At issue is whether adolescent suicide attempters and injured adolescent motor vehicle drivers constitute a common risk group and are differentiated by the response of the emergency medical care system and by case disposition. Data originated in the medical records of a Rhode Island (USA) trauma center. The two study groups were not distinguished by religious preference, socioeconomic status or timing of the injury incident, but differed significantly by gender, race, emergency vehicle use, hospital admission rates, and seasonal injury patterns. Alcohol and drug involvement was examined, but serious data deficiencies were noted.