PHILADELPHIA June 25, 2024 – The American College of Physicians (ACP) has joined the leaders of other major health organizations in support of the release of an advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on firearm violence in the United States. Dr. Murthy has declared firearm violence in the U.S. as a public health crisis and this is the first publication from the Office of the Surgeon General dedicated to firearm violence and its consequences for the health and well-being of the American public.
The advisory details the impact of gun violence beyond death and injury, describing the layers of cascading harm for youth, families, communities, and other populations. With nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults worrying “sometimes,” “almost every day,” or “every day,” about a loved one being a victim of firearm violence, the effects of the public health crisis extend well beyond physical health – it has led to a collective trauma across society that warrants heightened attention and outlines an evidence-informed public health approach to addressing the crisis of firearm violence including critical research funding, implementation of prevention strategies, and increased mental health access.
For decades, ACP has been on the frontlines of efforts to address firearm violence in the U.S., calling for measures that would help to curb this escalating crisis. ACP continues to address firearm injury through a variety of resources including public policy and advocacy efforts, publication of related research and other content in Annals of Internal Medicine, events that examine the impact on clinicians and the public, and collaboration with others to enact change. Most recently, ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine produced a video titled ACP: Firearm Injury is Very Much in Our Lane featuring first-hand accounts from physicians and patients who had been personally affected by gun violence. The video includes a call-to-action for physicians and legislators to advocate for common-sense policies aimed at reducing firearms-related injuries and death.
A quote from ACP leadership in the Surgeon-General’s advisory release reads: “The American College of Physicians has long advocated for a public health approach and common-sense measures to help curb this escalating crisis,” said ACP Executive Vice President and CEO, Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, MACP; and President Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, MACP. “We continue to address the problem of firearm injury through public policy and advocacy efforts, publication of related research and through events that examine the impact on clinicians and the public, and collaboration with others to enact change. We commend the Office of the Surgeon General for raising awareness of this growing epidemic.”
***
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Contact: Andrew Hachadorian, (215) 351-2514, ahachadorian@acponline.org