Suicide, Alcohol Intoxication, and Age Among Whites and American Indians/Alaskan Natives.

Abstract

Among American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs), suicides are disproportionately high among those younger than 40years of age. This paper examines suicide and alcohol intoxication (postmortem BAC≥0.08g/dl) by age among Whites and AI/ANs to better understand the reasons for the high rate of suicide among AI/ANs for those younger than 40. Data come from the restricted 2003 to 2016 National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), with postmortem information on 79,150 White and AI/AN suicide decedents of both genders who had a BAC test in 32 states of the United States. Among Whites, 39.3% of decedents legally intoxicated are younger than 40years of age, while among AI/ANs the proportion is 72.9% (p<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression with data divided by age shows that in the 18 to 39 age group, AI/ANs are about 2 times more likely than Whites to have a postmortem BAC≥0.08. Veteran status compared to nonveteran, and history of alcohol problems prior to suicide were also associated with BAC≥0.08. Suicide methods other than by firearm and a report of the presence of 2 or more suicide precipitating circumstances were protective against BAC≥0.08. Results for the age group 40years of age and older mirror those for the younger group with 1 exception: Race/ethnicity was not associated with BAC level. The proportion of suicide decedents with a BAC≥0.08 is higher among AI/ANs than Whites, especially among those 18 to 39years of age. However, acute alcohol intoxication does not fully explain differences in suicide age structure between AI/ANs and Whites.