Firearm Hospitalizations Dropped Before the Pandemic, Then Shot Up

A University of Michigan study found that firearm-related hospitalizations increased by 34% in 2020 and 2021, reversing a steady decline over the previous five years. The rise was especially pronounced among younger, low-income, and Black individuals, with hospitalization rates for these groups soaring by 44%, 46%, and 41%, respectively. The study, led by Dr. Raymond Jean, lead author of the study and a trauma surgeon at Michigan Medicine, underscores the alarming trends and calls for further research and policy changes to address the growing public health issue of firearm injuries.