John A Rich ^1* Courtney M Grey ²

¹ Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Public Health Commission
² Boston University School of Medicine

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jrich{at}bu.edu.

	Abstract

Recurrent interpersonal violence is a major cause of death and disability for young black men. Quantitative studies have uncovered factors associated with reinjury but little is known about how these factors work together. We interviewed young black male victims to understand their experience of violence. Qualitative analysis of their narratives reveals how their struggle to reestablish safety shapes their response to injury. Aspects of the "code of the street" (including the need for respect) and lack of faith in the police, combine with traumatic stress and substance use to accentuate their sense of vulnerability. Victims then react to protect themselves in ways that may increase their risk of reinjury. The model we present has implications for reducing recurrent violent injury.

Key Words: Injury/Emergency Care/Violence, Men's Health, African Americans/Blacks, Qualitative Research, Urban Health, Substance Abuse

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