Hutson H R, Anglin D, Spears K
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Neurosurg Clin N Am. 1995 Oct;6(4):621-8.
Street gang violence has become a major public health problem in the United States, especially in the inner city. To prevent gang violence, one must understand the many facets of violent street gang activity and the psychological effects of gang violence on individuals as well as on the community. Further, one must have an understanding of the root causes of violent street gang formation, the relationship of firearms to gang violence, and the medical cost of these types of injuries. Prevention should begin with alleviating the root causes of violent street gang formation and include breaking the bonds of violent street gang membership. Adults acknowledge a societal obligation to protect and guide children and adolescents as an investment in the future. Because both children and adolescents lack judgment and experience, they cannot be expected to avoid injury and violence on their own. Although the financial cost of preventing gang violence would not be insignificant, the savings in terms of lives and medical expenditure would be immense. Unless steps are taken to end the physical and psychological trauma, regions of the United States, such as Los Angeles County, will not be safe from the effects of gang violence.
街头帮派暴力已成为美国一个主要的公共卫生问题，尤其是在市中心。为预防帮派暴力，人们必须了解暴力街头帮派活动的诸多方面，以及帮派暴力对个人和社区的心理影响。此外，人们必须了解暴力街头帮派形成的根源、枪支与帮派暴力的关系，以及这类伤害的医疗成本。预防应从消除暴力街头帮派形成的根源入手，包括打破暴力街头帮派成员之间的纽带。成年人承认有社会义务保护和引导儿童及青少年，将其视为对未来的一种投资。由于儿童和青少年都缺乏判断力和经验，不能期望他们独自避免受伤和暴力。尽管预防帮派暴力的经济成本不会微不足道，但在挽救生命和节省医疗开支方面的收益将是巨大的。除非采取措施终结身体和心理创伤，否则美国的一些地区，如洛杉矶县，将无法免受帮派暴力影响。
