Adolescent Substance Abuse and Suicide

Substance Abuse and Suicide Risk Among Adolescents Adolescents are at high risk for suicidal ideations, behaviors, attempts, and suicide. Adolescent needs for independence, identity formation, and peer acceptance increase risk-taking behavior. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people aged 15-24. Suicide is the main reason for referrals for child and adolescent emergency psychiatric services. There has been a steady increase in adolescent drug abuse in the United States since 1960. Substance abuse has been proposed as a risk factor for suicidal behavior.

The study examined whether there was an association between drug abuse and suicidal behavior and whether drug abuse was specifically a risk factor for suicide. The data collection process was a literature review conducted by two people independtly examining peer reviewed articles for relevancy and other factors, such as language, leaving 17 articles for examination. The results were then extracted and presented in a table along with an opinion of the study. The research demonstrated some relationship between alcohol use and suicidal behavior.

Alcohol misuse seems to be associated with symptoms of depression, which are then associated with suicidal behavior, but the review did not discuss whether the results were compared to control groups of people with depression who had not attempted suicide. Early alcohol use was associated with suicidality. There was a relationship between the use of some other substances and suicidality. The positive relationship between cannabis use and suicidality seems linked to confounding factors.

The starting age for heroin use has a greater impact on suicidality than the fact of that the person is an opoid user. Cocaine usage seems linked to suicidal behaviors, especially when combined with other substances. Drug misuse rather than use is predictive of suicidality. Experts disagree about the role that substance use plays in promoting suicidal behaviors and how it may interact with any pre-existing mood disorders and.