Suicide Attempts in Which Alcohol is Involved: a Special Group in General Hospital Emergency Rooms

62% of 1018 parasuicide patients treated in the emergency room of a Helsinki hospital in 1983 had recently consumed alcohol in addition to medical drugs. High body alcohol levels were associated with young age & male gender. Alcohol consumption shortly before, or at the time of the attempt, was more common among young or lonely men with previous attempts but their suicide risk was assessed as less severe. By the end of a 5.5 year follow-up, 3.3% of the alcohol consumers had committed suicide.