Recreational drug use and suicidality among Italian young adults

The aim of the study was to explore recreational drug use patterns among a sample of Italian young adults and to examine the role of substance misuse on suicidality. Three hundred and forty Italian young adults between 19 and 30 years of age completed measures of suicidality (Reasons for Living Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Suicide Score Scale), depression (Zung Depression Scale), problem drinking (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test), and drug use (Drug Abuse Screening Test). Respondents were classified as problem drug users and drinkers (14.7% and 24.1%, respectively), and men were overrepresented in both groups. Alcohol and drugs misuse was significantly associated with reasons for living, hopelessness, suicidal attitudes, and depression. A multiple regression analysis resulted in four models predictive of suicide risk and four predictors were extracted--the Drug Abuse Screening Test, the Zung Depression Scale, and Loss of Motivation as positive predictors of suicide risk with Survival and Coping Beliefs as negative predictors.