Suicide Attempts Within 12 Months of Treatment for Substance use Disorders

In an analysis of the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Study, a longitudinal naturalistic multisite study of treated substance use disorders, variables associated with suicide attempts in the 12 months following were examined. Participants included 2,966 patients with one or more substance use disorders. By 12 months, 77 patients had attempted suicide. After controlling for baseline predictors, variables assessed at 12 months as being associated with suicide attempts included suicide ideation during follow-up & daily or more use of cocaine. Data suggest that substance use disorders with cocaine use disorders in particular should be a focus of prevention efforts. (31 refs.)