Drug-related Suicide Research Articles

The trend of suicide and self-harm in the Chinese population from 2018 to 2022 based on ambulance medical emergency cases: a retrospective study

ObjectiveThis study investigates the trends of suicide and self-harm in Nanjing, China, through 4 years of data collection, aiming to provide valuable information for developing effective suicide prevention strategies.MethodsThis descriptive study analyzed Nanjing Emergency Medical Center (NEMC) ambulance records from Nanjing (2018–2022) to investigate suicide and self-harm events. Out of 689,305 records, 4,261 cases were included after exclusions. The study categorized incidents into 4,103 suicide events and 158 self-harm cases. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were conducted to identify characteristics and themes related to these events, with age groups defined according to American Medical Association standards.ResultsThe study highlights drug poisoning as the leading method, accounting for 63.56% of the 4,103 suicide events. It notes significant trends by age, gender, and season, with males showing higher rates of self-harm. The study emphasizes the need for targeted prevention strategies, particularly focusing on drug-related suicides among adults and adolescents, as well as the prevalence of various self-harming behaviors.ConclusionTo reduce self-harm and suicide, interventions must be strengthened for women, who experience higher rates. Key strategies include regulating pesticides and psychotropic drugs, increasing access to mental health resources, and launching community awareness campaigns. Additionally, training healthcare providers and promoting family education can enhance support for women facing mental health challenges.

The effect of pill mill legislation on suicides.

To examine the effect of pill mill legislation on suicides and drug-related suicides in the United States. We use state-level restricted use mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System for the period 2000-2016, along with state level sociodemographic data from the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics and opioid-related state health policy data from publicly available sources for the analysis. The analyses use a difference-in-differences regression approach. Publicly available secondary data were collected and merged with restricted use mortality data files from the National Vital Statistics System for the analysis. Our results show that pill mill legislation is associated with an 8.5% (p < 0.01) reduction in the drug related suicide rate, a 4.9% (p < 0.05) reduction in suicides among females, and a 4.7% (p < 0.05) reduction in suicides among individuals between age 45 and 64 years. The findings indicate that pill mill legislation has been effective in reducing total suicides among females in the age group 45-64, and drug-related suicides in the population resulting in 658 fewer drug-related suicides for a given year if pill mill laws are adopted by every state.

How search engines may help reduce drug-related suicides

Background and aimsNumbers of drug-overdose deaths, both intentionally and unintentionally, have been increasing in the United States. Of interest, Google spotlights counselling services as helpful resources when users query for suicide-related search terms. However, the search engine does so at varying display rates, depending on terms used. Display rates in the drug-overdose deaths domain are unknown. MethodsWe emulated suicide-related potentially harmful searches at large scale across the U.S. to explore Google’s response to search queries including or excluding additional drug-related terms. Employing agent-based testing we conducted 215,999 search requests with varying combinations of search terms. ResultsCounseling services such as helpline telephone numbers were displayed at high rates after suicide-related potentially harmful search queries (e.g., “how to commit suicide”). While this is a desirable outcome, display rates were substantially lower when drug-related terms, indicative of users’ suicidal overdosing tendencies, were added (e.g., “how to commit suicide fentanyl”). Importantly, the addition of any drug-related search term to the suicide-related queries decreased the display frequency of helpful prevention-related resources substantially. ConclusionsSearch queries such as “easy way to commit suicide fentanyl” may indicate acute suicidal crises. Helpful resources should be displayed right in such search moments. Search engines should adjust their algorithms to increase these display rates to direct users to such resources. By doing this, search engines may contribute to the prevention of drug-related suicides.

Characteristics of Drugs Ingested for Suicide Attempts in the Elderly.

BackgroundSuicide is a significant public health problem worldwide. Suicide rates among elderly persons (≥ 65 years of age) are three times higher than those of younger people in Korea. The emergency department is an important entry of drug-related suicide attempt patients. In this study, we compared the frequency of drug types by age subgroup. Furthermore, we provide suggestions for preventing suicide attempts in the elderly.MethodsWe investigated 433 patients who were admitted to the emergency department for drug-related suicide attempts between 1 May 2015 and 30 April 2017.ResultsThe proportion of patients who overdosed on antidepressants was 32.5% in the non-elderly age group and 8.0% in the elderly group (≥ 65 years of age) (P < 0.001). Among the elderly, the most commonly ingested agent was hypnotics (59.1%) (P < 0.001). Compared with the non-elderly, the results showed that the elderly used fewer antidepressants (P < 0.001) and analgesics (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the elderly used more hypnotics (P < 0.001). Over-the-counter drugs and other medications showed similar usage trends in both age groups (P = 0.664, P = 0.193).ConclusionThe categories of drugs ingested for suicide attempts vary widely between different age groups. Younger people used antidepressants more frequently in suicide attempts, while the elderly used hypnotics more frequently. And the elderly required longer hospital stays. Suicide ideation and depressive mood in older patients who are prescribed hypnotics for various reasons should not be neglected. Further prevention efforts are needed to prevent suicide among the elderly.

Social determinants of drug-related mortality in a general population

BackgroundWe investigated the association between social determinants and a broad selection of drug-related deaths in a general population. MethodsWe conducted a follow-up of an 11% random sample of working-age Finnish residents for 1996–2007 linked with an oversampling of deaths and population registration data on social characteristics. We defined total drug-related deaths as those from psychoactive substance use disorders and drug-induced poisonings (drug-induced deaths) as well as drug-related accidents, homicides, illnesses, and suicides. ResultsThe number of drug-related deaths was three times that of drug-induced deaths. We found the highest hazard ratios (HRs) for total drug-related mortality for long-term unemployment (4.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3–5.6), short-term unemployment (3.9; 95% CI, 3.5–4.4), and retirement (5.8; 95% CI, 5.1–6.8). The HRs were highest for mortality related to psychoactive substance use disorders and lowest for mortality related to drug-related suicides. The differences were large for both sexes. ConclusionsDrug-related mortality was associated with social disadvantage; however, the strength of the association varied by drug-related cause of death. Primary and secondary prevention of drug use should particularly target disadvantaged groups.

Socio-demographic and clinical factors related to mortality among the geriatric suicide attempters admitted to the emergency department

Objective: The ratio of elderly people in Turkey is rapidly growing. Accordingly, psychiatric problems and suicidality among elderly people are growing concerns. In this study, we aimed to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of older people who attempted suicide by drug and to identify risk factors affecting mortality. Methods: Patients who were over 65 years old and admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital due to drug-related suicide attempt between January 1, 2004 and December 30, 2014, were included into this retrospective cross-sectional study. Relationship between suicide attempt and mortality was investigated in regard to socio-demographic and clinical factors. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they survived or died. Results: Of the 107 patients included in the study, 68.2% were female and 31.8% were male; 34.6% were married. Common reasons for suicide attempt were depression (34.6%) and domestic violence (30.8%). Analgesics (33.6%) were the most common drugs used in suicide attempts. The analysis of the factors related to suicide attempt and mortality revealed that significant factors were loneliness, being widowed, being retired, having adjustment disorder and anxiety disorder. Conclusion: Loneliness, being widowed, being retired, adjustment disorder, and anxiety disorder were found as the risk factors affecting mortality in geriatric suicide attempts. Key words: Geriatric, mortality, suicide

ED Visits for Drug-Related Suicide Attempts on Rise

ED Visits for Drug-Related Suicide Attempts on Rise

Evaluation of the patterns of potentially toxic exposures in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina

Objective. To describe the changes in the frequency of selected toxic exposures reported to the state poison control center following Hurricane Katrina. Methods. The numbers of selected exposures reported to the Mississippi Poison Control Center at 0–2 weeks, 3–4 weeks, and 5–12 weeks following Hurricane Katrina were compared to those for the same time periods in the previous 3 years. Absolute numbers of exposures and odds ratios with confidence intervals were used for comparison. Results. In the first 2 weeks following Hurricane Katrina, there were 44 reported gasoline exposures compared to 7 expected, 8 lamp oil exposures compared to 1 expected, and seven carbon monoxide exposures compared to 1 expected. Only gasoline exposures remained elevated in the second 2 weeks period following the hurricane. Lamp oil exposures were elevated during the 5–12 week recovery period. There was no increase in the frequency of exposures to household cleaning agents, food poisoning, pediatric exposures, drug-related suicide events, bites and stings, or venomous snakebites. Conclusions. The most common toxic exposures following Hurricane Katrina were related to the lack of typical energy sources, electricity, and gasoline.

Co-proxamol and suicide: preventing the continuing toll of overdose deaths

Restricting means for suicide is a key element in suicide prevention strategies of all countries where these have been introduced. Preventing deaths from analgesic overdoses is highlighted in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. The problem of self-poisoning with the prescription-only drug co-proxamol (dextropropoxyphene plus paracetamol) has received attention in several countries. We have conducted a review of the international literature related to possible strategies to tackle this problem. In England and Wales in 1997-1999, 18% of drug-related suicides involved co-proxamol; these constituted 5% of all suicides. Death usually results from the toxic effects of dextropropoxyphene on respiration or cardiac function. Death from co-proxamol overdose may occur rapidly, the lethal dose can be relatively low, and the effects are potentiated by alcohol and other CNS depressants. The majority of co-proxamol overdose deaths occur before hospital treatment can be received. The risk can extend to others in the household of the person for whom the drug is prescribed. While there is limited evidence that educational strategies have been effective in reducing deaths from co-proxamol poisoning, initiatives in Scandinavia, Australia and the UK to restrict availability of co-proxamol have produced promising results. Given the paucity of evidence for superior therapeutic efficacy of co-proxamol over other less toxic analgesics, there are good reasons to question whether it should continue to be prescribed.

Reduction in drug related suicide in Scotland 1990-1996: an artefactual explanation.

Method Data were extracted from the Annual Reports of the Registrar General for Scotland between 1990 and 1996. The three digit ICD9 codes relevant to drug related deaths are E950...

Drug-related suicide: a DAWN profile.

Drug-related suicides and suicide attempts/gestures account for a relatively large percentage of the drug-involved cases seen by hospital emergency rooms and medical examiners. While tranquilizer involvement characterizes the largest subgroup of suicide cases in the emergency room, barbiturate involvement is most frequently true of suicide cases seen by medical examiners. However, in both settings the suicides tend to be older and to include relatively more females and fewer Blacks than the nonsuicides.