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Intentional Drug Overdose Deaths and Mood Disorders in Brazil - A 20-year overview
Daniela Mendes Chiloff1, Vitor S Tardelli2, Marina Costa Moreira Bianco1
1Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
|February 2, 2025
Summary
Drug overdose deaths in Brazil disproportionately affect men and non-white individuals. Mood disorders are significantly linked to intentional overdose deaths, highlighting the need for integrated mental health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Drug overdose deaths represent a critical public health issue in Brazil, with limited prior research.
- This study addresses the understudied intersection of mood disorders, intentionality, and sociodemographic factors in overdose fatalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze drug overdose death records in Brazil from 2000 to 2020.
- To investigate the relationship between mood disorders and the intentionality of drug overdoses.
- To examine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with drug overdose deaths.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (2000-2020).
- Included overdose deaths coded as accidental, intentional, or undetermined (ICD-10 codes X40-Y15).
- Analyzed 21,410 deaths, with a focus on 933 cases involving mood disorders (ICD-10 codes F30-F39), using logistic regression.
Main Results:
- The majority of overdose decedents were men (61.55%), non-white (52.45%), and single (59.33%).
- Intentional overdoses constituted the largest proportion (44.70%).
- Individuals with mood disorders were more likely to be women (67.95%), white (63.88%), and have intentional overdoses (75.24%).
- Independent predictors of intentional overdose included female gender (OR 1.30), mood disorder (OR 2.0), non-white race (OR 0.56), and higher education levels.
Conclusions:
- Sociodemographic profiles of overdose decedents are crucial for informing national public health policies.
- Integrating mental health disorder screenings into primary care is recommended.
- Addressing drug-related problems alongside mental health is essential for prevention strategies.
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