Suicide Attempts Among Individuals With Opiate Dependence: the Critical Role of Belonging

This study explored the role of 3 theoretically important interpersonal variables – belonging, burdensomeness, & loneliness – in attempted suicide & unintentional drug overdose in a sample 131 methadone patients at an urban university hospital. In separate multivariate logistic regression analyses, individuals with a history of attempted suicide were compared to non-attempters & individuals with a history of unintentional overdose were compared to individuals without such a history. As hypothesized, low belonging distinguished suicide attempters but not individuals with a history of unintentional overdose, after accounting for covariates. Results concerning burdensomeness & suicide attempt were also suggestive. (38 refs.)