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Alcohol and drugs in suicides
A Ohberg1, E Vuori, I Ojanperä
1Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. Annakatri.Ohberg@helsinki.fi
Summary
This Finnish study found that while men more often used alcohol in suicides, women more frequently used antidepressants. Proper drug risk assessment is crucial for preventing suicide.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Forensic Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- A nationwide suicide study was conducted in Finland over one year.
- The study assessed the role of alcohol and drug use in completed suicides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze alcohol and drug consumption patterns in suicides.
- To determine relative suicide risks associated with various drug classes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1348 suicides, representing 96.5% of all suicides in the study year.
- Calculation of relative suicide risks by comparing drug-use suicides to drug availability.
Main Results:
- Alcohol was detected in twice as many male suicides as female suicides; drugs were more common in female suicides.
- Neuroleptics and antidepressants were the most frequent drugs used in suicides, often being the victim's own prescribed medication.
- Antidepressants were found in 19.0% of female suicides versus 4.8% of male suicides, with significant variation in risk between different antidepressant compounds.
Conclusions:
- Undertreatment of depression poses a significant challenge to suicide prevention efforts.
- Individuals committing suicide with antidepressants often used their own prescribed medications.
- Considering the relative suicide risk of specific drugs is essential when selecting treatments for patients with depression.