MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Apr 1998
Suicide prevention evaluation in a Western Athabaskan American Indian Tribe--New Mexico, 1988-1997.
Since 1979, suicide and homicide have alternated as the second and third leading causes of death among young American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). From 1979 through 1992, suicide rates for AI/ANs in all age groups were approximately 1.5 times the rates for the overall U. S. population. ⋯ Although knowledge about suicide among AI/ANs has increased, information about the efficacy of suicide prevention and intervention programs in general, and specifically in AI/AN communities, is scarce. In January 1990, following concern raised by tribal officials in 1988 about suicide among youth, a Western Athabaskan tribe in rural New Mexico implemented a suicide prevention and intervention program that targeted tribal members aged 15-19 years. This report summarizes the results of the program through 1997 and indicates that rates of suicide and attempted suicide among this target population decreased substantially after the program was implemented.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Apr 1998
Tobacco use among high school students--United States, 1997.
Tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Approximately 80% of tobacco use occurs for the first time among youth aged <18 years, and the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescents increased during the early 1990s. ⋯ This report summarizes the results of the analysis, which indicate that the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among U. S. high school students increased from 27.5% in 1991 to 36.4% in 1997 and that, in 1997, 42.7% of students used cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or cigars during the 30 days preceding the survey.