Suicidal Ideation, Planning, and Attempts Among Synthetic Cannabinoid Users Across Different Demographic Subgroups

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Adolescent Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Case studies suggest synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use correlates with suicide risk.
• Previous research has not examined the relationship between SC use and suicidal ideation in a generalizable adolescent sample.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if SC use is associated with suicidal thoughts, planning, or attempts in adolescents.
• To investigate if SC use and suicide risk are amplified in specific demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cross-sectional self-report data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
• Analyzed data from 29,384 adolescents using logistic regression models.

Main Results:

• Found a significant association between SC use and suicidal thoughts and attempts.
• Observed a strong relationship between SC use and suicide risk in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals and African Americans, even after accounting for depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• SC use may indicate heightened suicide risk in adolescents, regardless of direct or indirect impact.
• Healthcare providers should be aware of the SC-suicide connection, especially in African American and/or LGB patients.