A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities
Abstract Objective To examine prevalence, demographic, and incident factors associated with opioid-positivity in Illinois suicide decedents who died by causes other than poisoning. Method Cross-sectional study of Illinois’ suicide decedents occurring between January 2015 and December 2017. Data come...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10792-y |
| _version_ | 1818927362003173376 |
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| author | Maryann Mason Sarah B. Welch Suzanne McLone Tami Bartell Patrick M. Lank Karen Sheehan Lori Ann Post |
| author_facet | Maryann Mason Sarah B. Welch Suzanne McLone Tami Bartell Patrick M. Lank Karen Sheehan Lori Ann Post |
| author_sort | Maryann Mason |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective To examine prevalence, demographic, and incident factors associated with opioid-positivity in Illinois suicide decedents who died by causes other than poisoning. Method Cross-sectional study of Illinois’ suicide decedents occurring between January 2015 and December 2017. Data come from the National Violent Death Reporting System. We used Chi-square tests to compare decedent and incident circumstance characteristics by opioid toxicology screen status. Incident narratives were analyzed to obtain physical and mental health histories and circumstances related to fatal injury events. Results Of 1007 non-poisoning suicide decedents screened for opioids, 16.4% were opioid-positive. White race, age 75 and over, and widowed or unknown marital status were associated with opioid-positivity. Among opioid-positive decedents, 25% had a history of substance use disorder (SUD), 61% depression, and 19% anxiety. The majority (52%) of opioid-positive decedents died by firearm, a higher percentage than opioid-negative decedents. Conclusion The opioid overdose crisis largely has not overlapped with non-poisoning suicide in this study. Overall, our analyses have not identified additional risk factors for suicide among opioid-positive suicide decedents. However, the overlap between opioid-positivity, SUD, and physical and mental health problems found among decedents in our data suggest several suicide prevention opportunities. These include medication assisted treatment for SUD which has been shown to reduce suicide, screening for opioid/benzodiazepine overlap, and limiting access to lethal means during opioid use. Improved death scene investigations for substances and use of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to document prescriptions are needed to further understanding of the role of substances in non-poisoning suicide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:11:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c3ab2dd2a4a4b4aa596de85f7fd901b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:11:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c3ab2dd2a4a4b4aa596de85f7fd901b2022-12-21T19:55:26ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-04-012111510.1186/s12889-021-10792-yA cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunitiesMaryann Mason0Sarah B. Welch1Suzanne McLone2Tami Bartell3Patrick M. Lank4Karen Sheehan5Lori Ann Post6Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityBuehler Center for Health Policy and Economics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversitySmith Child Health Research, Outreach and Advocacy Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of ChicagoSmith Child Health Research, Outreach and Advocacy Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of ChicagoFeinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversitySmith Child Health Research, Outreach and Advocacy Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of ChicagoBuehler Center for Health Policy and Economics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern UniversityAbstract Objective To examine prevalence, demographic, and incident factors associated with opioid-positivity in Illinois suicide decedents who died by causes other than poisoning. Method Cross-sectional study of Illinois’ suicide decedents occurring between January 2015 and December 2017. Data come from the National Violent Death Reporting System. We used Chi-square tests to compare decedent and incident circumstance characteristics by opioid toxicology screen status. Incident narratives were analyzed to obtain physical and mental health histories and circumstances related to fatal injury events. Results Of 1007 non-poisoning suicide decedents screened for opioids, 16.4% were opioid-positive. White race, age 75 and over, and widowed or unknown marital status were associated with opioid-positivity. Among opioid-positive decedents, 25% had a history of substance use disorder (SUD), 61% depression, and 19% anxiety. The majority (52%) of opioid-positive decedents died by firearm, a higher percentage than opioid-negative decedents. Conclusion The opioid overdose crisis largely has not overlapped with non-poisoning suicide in this study. Overall, our analyses have not identified additional risk factors for suicide among opioid-positive suicide decedents. However, the overlap between opioid-positivity, SUD, and physical and mental health problems found among decedents in our data suggest several suicide prevention opportunities. These include medication assisted treatment for SUD which has been shown to reduce suicide, screening for opioid/benzodiazepine overlap, and limiting access to lethal means during opioid use. Improved death scene investigations for substances and use of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to document prescriptions are needed to further understanding of the role of substances in non-poisoning suicide.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10792-ySuicideOpioidsChronic health conditionsSubstance misuse |
| spellingShingle | Maryann Mason Sarah B. Welch Suzanne McLone Tami Bartell Patrick M. Lank Karen Sheehan Lori Ann Post A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities BMC Public Health Suicide Opioids Chronic health conditions Substance misuse |
| title | A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities |
| title_full | A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities |
| title_short | A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities |
| title_sort | cross sectional study of opioid involvement in non poisoning suicide risks and prevention opportunities |
| topic | Suicide Opioids Chronic health conditions Substance misuse |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10792-y |
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