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Blood Alcohol Concentration in Finnish Suicide Deaths and Associated Risk Factors, 2016-2024
Tristan Pokornyi1,2, Marjut Grainger1, Timo Partonen1
1Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Department of Healthcare and Social Welfare, Promotional and Preventive Work Unit, Mental Health Team, Helsinki, Finland.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|April 17, 2026
Summary
This study found that alcohol use, prior suicide attempts, and infrequent healthcare visits increase intoxication risk during suicide deaths in Finland. Conversely, younger age and diagnoses of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder decrease this risk.
Area of Science:
- Forensic toxicology
- Public health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Limited research exists on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and risk factors in Finnish suicide deaths.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for targeted suicide prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and medical history, including sociodemographic factors and disease diagnoses, in suicide deaths in Finland.
- To identify specific risk and protective factors associated with alcohol intoxication during suicide.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of suicide deaths in Finland (2016-2024) using official cause-of-death investigations, autopsy, toxicology, death certificates, and national healthcare registries.
- Categorization of BAC into nil (0.000%), low-to-medium (0.010%-0.099%), and high (0.100%-0.500%).
- Descriptive statistics, correlation, and stepwise logistic regression were used to determine odds ratios (ORs) for BAC categories.
Main Results:
- Of 6892 suicide deaths, 6835 had BAC data. Independent factors for elevated BAC included alcohol use (ORs: 41.80-275.27), longer intervals since last healthcare visit (ORs: 1.54-2.53), and previous suicide attempts (ORs: 1.42-1.65).
- Female gender was associated with high BAC (OR: 1.30).
- Reduced odds for elevated BAC were observed in schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis (OR: 0.17), bipolar disorder (OR: 0.29), and specific age groups (10-19 years, 70-79 years, and 80+ years).
Conclusions:
- Habitual alcohol use, female gender, prior suicide attempts, and infrequent healthcare contact are linked to higher intoxication rates in suicide.
- Younger age (under 20), older age (over 70), and diagnoses of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are associated with lower odds of intoxication during suicide.
- Findings underscore the need for integrated alcohol-use interventions and proactive healthcare engagement in suicide prevention efforts.
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