Youth Substance Use and Suicide Behavior

Abstract

Suicidal behavior in adolescents has increased by 56% over the last 10 years [1]. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for adolescents in 2016 [2]. The number of hospitalizations for teen suicide attempts nearly doubled from 2008 to 2015 [3]. Understanding the underlying causes of adolescent suicide is necessary for suicide prevention [4]. Because of the complex setting in which suicide behaviors occur, the literature has not definitively identified factors that cause suicide behavior but it has identified a complex combination of precipitating or contributing factors including mental illness, lack of connectedness, stress, and substance use [5]. The current review focuses on four substances identified by SAMHSA’s as core measures [6]: alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and prescription drugs. These are the substances most commonly reported to be used by youth. We reviewed their relationship with youth suicidal ideation (SI), suicidal planning (SP) and attempts (SA).