Factors associated with handgun carriage among U.S. adolescents, 2021-2022

The rise in adolescent handgun carriage over the past decade represents a significant public health concern. Using nationally representative data, this study examines risk factors associated with handgun carriage among U.S. adolescents.

We used data on adolescents aged 12-17 years from the 2021 and 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 20,869), with past-year handgun carriage defined as a binary variable. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to determine factors associated with handgun carriage across adolescent age groups (12-13 years, 14-15 years, 16-17 years).

The average prevalence of adolescent past-year handgun carriage was 4.0%. Across age groups, past-year violence and selling illicit drugs were associated with handgun carriage. There was variation among age groups between substance use and handgun carriage; handgun carriage was associated with alcohol use in 12-13 year-olds (OR: 4.22, 95% CI: 1.50,11.88), and cannabis (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.06,3.93) and illicit drug use (OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.11,9.68) in 14-15 year-olds. Suicidality was only associated with handgun carriage for ages 12-13 years (OR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.29,4.79).

Understanding risk factors of handgun carriage among different stages of adolescence can enhance preventive efforts aimed at reducing handgun carriage.