The relationship of suicide attempts to licit and illicit drug use

A strong association seems to exist between substance use and suicidal attempts. Data supporting the above association derive from several studies carried out in Greece by the Department of Psychiatry and the University Mental Health Research Institute of the Athens University: 1. A nationwide survey on adolescent students aged 14-18 years. 2. A general population survey of the greater Athens area. 3. Studies on samples of drug-dependent individuals. In the student adolescent population the odds of suicidal attempts in drug users were about 7 times higher for boys and 5 times higher for girls compared to nonusers. In the general population the odds of suicide attempts in drug users were 19 times higher than nonusers for men and 5 times for women. Finally, in the sample of drug addicts (mainly opioid dependents) self-reported suicide attempts were reported by a much higher percentage (27%) than the control group drawn from the general population (0.5%) with an odds ratio of 54. Findings from both surveys show a linear trend between the frequency of substance consumption and suicide attempts. The association of suicide attempts to substance use is further discussed in conjunction with mood and behavioral-impulsivity disorders.