Characteristics of Injection Drug Users Derived From a Large Family Study of Alcoholism

In this study the specific demographics of injection drug users (IDU) was determined by studying IDUs pulled from a more general group of alcoholics in various states in the US. The study found that IDUs were 4 times more likely than the sample to have had suicidal ideas and 8 times more likely to have attempted suicide. However, no increase in severity of the suicide attempt, as compared to the rest of the sample, was found. (28 refs.)