CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. The Nature and Scope of Suicide
2. Recognizing the Progressive Development of Suicide
3. Substance Abuse as a Major Contributor to Suicide
4. Suicide Across the Life Span
5. Special Populations and Suicide Risk
6. Prevention and Early Intervention for Suicide and Substance Abuse Problems

Supplements
References
Resources

Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention

Alcohol and Suicide

This alcohol/suicide association is based on a number of factors:

• Alcohol is easily available, since it is legal, and affordable.
• Alcohol use may reduce a person's inhibitions and also impair judgment.
• Alcohol abuse frequently leads to impulsive, aggressive behavior.
• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant.

Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the body, and with its continued use, alcohol reduces reaction time, leads to difficulty walking, and impaired judgment. In large doses, when consumed rapidly, alcohol can result in coma and death. ref

In addition to its link to substance abuse, suicide may occur with mental illness, particularly depression. For example:

• At least 90 percent of all people who kill themselves have a mental or substance abuse disorder, or a combination of disorders. ref
• In a study of adults who drank alcohol, suicide ideation was reported among persons with depression. Another survey reported that persons who had made a suicide attempt were more likely to have a depressive disorder, and many also had an alcohol and/or substance abuse disorder. ref
• Among youth ages 12-19, males with hallucinogen use disorders, inhalant use disorders, and sedative-hypnotic use disorders had a higher risk for attempting suicide, and females with substance abuse disorders other than marijuana use had higher odds for attempting suicide. ref