Variation in suicidality among substance-abusing women: the role of childhood adversity

The relationship of early adversity to suicidality in later life has been noted in diverse populations. Here we report such a relationship for a sample of African American women who smoke crack cocaine. This article is a secondary analysis of data from women (mean age = 31 years; range, 19-48) who were recruited from treatment settings (n = 152) or informal community contacts (n = 56). The present analyses focused on measures related to investment in self-preservation and development, particularly suicidal ideation and attempts. Multiple regression analyses were used to model the effect of early stress (sexual abuse, parental loss, and parental impairment) on the primary outcome measures (suicidality total, age at first consensual sexual relations, and years of education). Suicidality was associated with childhood adversity (sexual abuse, loss of mother). Of those who had experienced early sexual abuse, 42% had attempted suicide, compared to 19% of those who had not been sexually abused.