Cigarette Smoking Among Veterans at High Risk for Suicide: Challenges and Opportunities for Intervention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Suicide prevention is a critical priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
• U.S. military veterans exhibit a significantly higher suicide rate compared to non-Veteran adults.
• Cigarette smoking is independently linked to increased risks of suicidal ideation, attempts, plans, and deaths across veteran and non-veteran populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the integration of cigarette smoking into suicide risk assessment protocols within the VA.
• To propose tobacco cessation interventions as a beneficial strategy for reducing suicide risk among veterans.
• To highlight modifiable targets for suicide prevention in high-risk veteran populations.

Main Methods:

• This is a commentary, not an empirical study.
• The authors review existing literature on the association between smoking and suicide risk.
• Recommendations are based on the identified link and the availability of evidence-based cessation interventions.

Main Results:

• Tobacco use is often overlooked in current VA suicide risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• Cigarette smoking is a modifiable risk factor associated with elevated suicide risk.
• Evidence-based interventions for tobacco cessation exist and can be leveraged.

Conclusions:

• Cigarette smoking should be explicitly considered in suicide risk assessment protocols for veterans.
• Tobacco cessation interventions should be incorporated into VA suicide prevention strategies.
• Addressing tobacco use disorder is a crucial step in reducing suicide among veterans.