Violence and drug use are public health as well as public safety issues. Residents of low-income urban areas are most at risk of becoming victims of drug- and violence-related injuries and deaths, just as young men in these areas are at higher risk of becoming agents in drug- and violence-related events. Changes in drug- and violence-related injuries and deaths over time reflect successful partnerships between communities and public health and safety officials.
How are we doing?
The number of victims of violence-related injuries in Boston declined by 43% between 1995 and 2002. However, the percentage of Boston violence victims who are black or Latino has increased, while the percentage of whites has fallen. About one in four Boston residents is black, but black residents make up 60% of the city’s victims of violence. The annual drug-related death rate was 2.3 to 4 times higher among men compared to women between 1995 and 2002 in Boston.
In 2003, the total number of homicides in Boston was 39, down from 60 in 2002. Between 1968 and 1995, homicides averaged 99 per year. From 1996 to 2003, the average has been 46 per year. Risk factors for homicide include alcohol and drug use, availability of firearms, and the cultural acceptance of firearms.
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Click image to enlarge chart "Weapons-Related Injuries, City of Boston: 1995-2002"
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Click image to enlarge chart"Homicides, City of Boston: 1950-2004"
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Click image to enlarge chart"Drug-Related Mortality, Age-adjusted Rates: 1995-2002"
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