Prevalence of suicide attempt and associations with deliberate self‑harm, mental health problems, drug misuse and traumatic experiences: A cross sectional survey of the Norwegian population

Background: Monitoring self-reported suicide attempts (SA) with nationally representative surveys is important to initiate suicide prevention strategies. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of SA and compare deliberate self-harm, (DSH), mental health, drug misuse and traumas between SA and non-suicide attempters (NSA). Methods: In this cross-sectional survey of a representative sample (N=1757) of […]

Mental health of South Korean adolescents in the COVID‑19 Era: Web‑based survey focused on suicide‑related factors

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted many aspects of life. Measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., school lockdowns, remote and hybrid classes, group and outdoor activity restrictions, and social distancing in the classroom and meal time) could have led to adolescents to experience anxiety and depressive symptoms. Such mental […]

Suicide ideation and behavior and ATOD use among bisexual high school students

Background Research has indicated that sexual minorities have higher prevalence rates for ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior compared to heterosexual youth. Yet, most studies to date have combined gay, lesbian, and bisexuals into one category. This study sought to assess the uniqueness of bisexuality to assess the risk of ATOD use and suicide […]

Factors associated with suicide in people who use drugs: A scoping review

Background Suicide is a significant contributor to global mortality. People who use drugs (PWUD) are at increased risk of death by suicide relative to the general population, but there is a lack of information on associated candidate factors for suicide in this group. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of […]

Characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts among patients admitted to an Iranian poisoning center: Implications for suicide prevention

Background: Suicide is a major public health concern worldwide. Iran is no exception, with suicide rates increasing in recent years. Understanding the characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts can help inform suicide prevention efforts in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who attempted suicide and were admitted to the poisoning emergency […]

Ethanol and illicit drugs acute use and abuse as risk factors for suicide: A case-control study based on forensic autopsies in the Basque Country, Spain

Introduction: Abuse/dependence and acute use of ethanol and illicit drug are considered risk factors for suicide. The risk is also influenced by demographic conditions and/or psychiatric comorbidity. The aim of the study was to test the association between presence of ethanol, illicit substances and prescribed drugs in suicide decedents and controls. Materials and methods: Case–control study of autopsies performed in the Biscay Forensic […]

Prescription drugs with potential for misuse: Protocol for a multi-indicator analysis of supply, detection and the associated health burden in Ireland between 2010 and 2020

Introduction There is an increasing concern about the misuse of prescription drugs. Misuse refers to the intentional repurposing of prescribed drugs and/or the use of illicitly sourced prescription drugs, which may be counterfeit or contaminated. Drugs with the greatest potential for misuse are prescription opioids, gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs and stimulants. Objective The aim of this study […]

Adverse childhood experiences among women prisoners: Relationships to suicide attempts and drug abuse

Background: Women prisoners are known to suffer from an accumulation of factors known to increase the risk for several major health problems. This study examines the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and the relationship between such experiences and suicide attempts and drug use among incarcerated women in Norway. Methods: A total of 141 women […]

Health care utilization prior to suicide in adults with drug use disorders

Drug use disorders (DUD) are associated with psychiatric illness and increased risks of suicide. We examined health care utilization prior to suicide in adults with DUD, which may reveal opportunities to prevent suicide in this high-risk population. A national cohort study was conducted of all 6,947,191 adults in Sweden, including 166,682 (2.4%) with DUD, who were followed up for suicide during […]

Trends in suicidal behaviors among US adults 2015-2018

Background: Suicide remains a major public health problem in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in suicide ideation, planning, and attempts among a national sample of US adults. Method: We used aggregated 2015–2018 data from the National Survey Drug Use and Health Survey. We utilized demographic and substance use questions with each […]

Evaluation of factors related to overdose in patients with impaired consciousness who are transported by emergency medical services: An age-specific research

Background: Drug overdose accounts for most of the admissions to the emergency department. Prescription drugs, most of which are psychotropic medications, are often misused for drug overdose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between overdose in patients transported with disorders of consciousness and psychotropic medications administered prior to transport, so as to […]

Mortality among young people seeking residential treatment for problematic drug and alcohol use: A data linkage study

Background Young people with problematic alcohol and other drug (AOD) use are often referred to residential treatment. Subsequent mortality rates among this high-risk group is not known. This study estimates mortality rates and determines causes of death amongst young people referred to residential treatment in Sydney, Australia. Design Retrospective data linkage study. Data of young […]

Exploring the mediating role of methamphetamine use in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and attempted suicide

Objective Methamphetamine (METH) use and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour. However, whether METH use underlies the risk of suicide attributable to ACEs is unknown and warrants investigation to inform preventive interventions. In this study, we examined the mediating role of METH use in the relationship between […]

Substance use and suicide outcomes among self-injured trauma patients

Background Research indicates alcohol (AUD) or substance (SUD) use disorders and acute alcohol or drug use serve as risk factors for suicidal behaviors and death both distally and proximally to a suicidal event. However, limited research has investigated these relationships among medically serious suicide attempters at the time of injury without relying on cohorts of […]

Risk factors for completed suicide among people who use drugs: A scoping review protocol [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]

Background: Research over the past several decades has shown an increased risk for completed suicide among people who use drugs (PWUD). However, no study to date has attempted to summarise the available literature on the variety of risk factors associated with this increased risk. This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review that aims […]

Relationship between Buddhist belief and suicide risk in Chinese persons undergoing methadone maintenance therapy for heroin dependence

Background: In western countries, there is a negative association between religious belief and suicide risk, while in China this association is positive. Nevertheless, few data are available on the association between one specific type of religion and suicide risk, which might be different from the overall positive religion-suicide association in China. This study examined the association […]

Prediction of attempted suicide in men and women with crack-cocaine use disorder in Brazil

Background Suicide is a severe health problem, with high rates in individuals with addiction. Considering the lack of studies exploring suicide predictors in this population, we aimed to investigate factors associated with attempted suicide in inpatients diagnosed with cocaine use disorder using two analytical approaches. Methods This is a cross-sectional study using a secondary database […]

Deaths of despair and the future of capitalism.

Life expectancy in the United States has recently fallen for three years in a row—a reversal not seen since 1918 or in any other wealthy nation in modern times. In the past two decades, deaths of despair from suicide, drug overdose, and alcoholism have risen dramatically, and now claim hundreds of thousands of American lives […]

Predictors of suicidal ideation and attempts among LGBTQ adolescents: The roles of help-seeking beliefs, peer victimization, depressive symptoms, and drug use.

Objectives Suicide is a leading causes of death for adolescents, and is a developmental period with the highest rates of suicide attempts. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are a high-risk population for suicidal ideations and behaviors when compared with their non-LGBTQ counterparts. However, a dearth of research exists on the protective factors […]

Intergenerational trauma: The relationship between residential schools and the child welfare system among young people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Purpose This study investigated the relationship between familial residential school system (RSS) exposure and personal child welfare system (CWS) involvement among young people who use drugs (PWUD). Methods Data were obtained from two linked cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada, and restricted to Indigenous participants. Multivariable logisticregression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between three categories of familial RSS exposure (none, […]

The moderating effect of psychedelics on the prospective relationship between prescription opioid use and suicide risk among marginalized women

BACKGROUND/AIMS:: Given high rates of depression and suicide among marginalized women, and increasing calls to integrate trauma-informed biomedical and community-led structural interventions, this study longitudinally examines the potential moderating effect of psychedelic use on the relationship between other illicit drug use and suicide risk. METHODS:: Data (2010-2017) were drawn from a community-based, prospective open cohort […]

The Cedar Project: Mortality among young Indigenous people who use drugs in British Columbia.

BACKGROUND: Young Indigenous people, particularly those involved in the child welfare system, those entrenched in substance use and those living with HIV or hepatitis C, are dying prematurely. We report mortality rates among young Indigenous people who use drugs in British Columbia and explore predictors of mortality over time. METHODS: We analyzed data collected every 6 months […]

Substance use disorders and the risk of suicide mortality among men and women in the US Veterans Health Administration.

Background and Aims Limited information is available regarding links between specific substance use disorders (SUDs) and suicide mortality; however, the preliminary evidence that is available suggests that suicide risk associated with SUDs may differ for men and women. This study aimed to estimate associations between SUDs and suicide for men and women receiving Veterans Health […]