Alcohol Use Disorder Visits and Suicide Ideation Diagnosis: Racial/Ethnic Differences at Emergency Departments

Nationally, suicide ideation prevalence is comparable among White, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic adults experiencing alcohol use disorder. This study examines whether such comparability extends to the probability of receiving a suicide ideation diagnosis when presenting with alcohol use disorder at emergency departments. The probability of hospitalization following such diagnosis is examined as well.

National Emergency Department Sample (2019) data were used. Logistic and multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed in 2022-2023 with suicide ideation diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization as the outcome variables. Control variables included demographics, payor, alcohol use disorder level, comorbidities, and emergency department facility. Adjusted probabilities were computed.

Age-adjusted probabilities of suicide ideation diagnoses for American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic patients with alcohol use disorder were 5.4%, 6.7%, and 4.9% (95% CIs=3.7, 7.1; 6.0, 7.4; 4.4, 5.4), respectively; all less than that for White counterparts (8.7%; 95% CI=8.2, 9.2). Among patients with alcohol use disorder plus suicide ideation diagnoses, the age-adjusted probability of hospitalization for American Indians/Alaska Natives (32.4%; 95% CI=20.9, 44.0) was less than that for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics (49.8%, 52.3%, and 49.9%; 95% CIs=46.7, 52.8; 47.1, 57.5; and 43.9, 55.8, respectively). In regressions with multiple control variables, the racial/ethnic differences remained statistically significant (p<0.05).

Diagnosis of suicide ideation, a key step in emergency department suicide prevention care, occurred significantly less often for patients of color with alcohol use disorder than for White counterparts. American Indians/Alaska Natives, the racial/ethnic group known to have the nation's highest suicide rate, had the lowest probability of being hospitalized after a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder plus suicide ideation.