Violence in America: an integrated approach to understanding and prevention

Violence in our country has reached epidemic proportions, especially among our youth. Of 22 industrialized nations, the United States has the highest homicide rate among young males 15 to 24 years of age. To reduce the incidence of violence, we must radically shift our approach to emphasize prevention and intervention. There are several ways of achieving violence reduction through these means. The scientific approach requires the determination of causation and risk factors to shed light on the patterns of violence and the effects on subgroups of the population. Also required is the development of targeted programs aimed at specific high-risk populations. In the area of youth violence intervention, programs must focus on young children and their parents, often children themselves, to prompt appropriate changes in knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Community-based programs can go a step further to initiate changes in the social environment that will create opportunities for adequate housing, job training or employment, or academic achievement. These efforts exemplify the notion that violence is not a factor of race, but rather is based on socioeconomic factors, particularly poverty and racism.