Citation

Artenie AA, Bruneau J, Roy E, Zang G, Lespérance F, Renaud J, Tremblay J, Jutras-Aswad D. Addiction 2015; 110(10): 1636-1643.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/add.13030

PMID

26119212

Abstract

AIM: To estimate associations between recent licit and illicit substance use and subsequent suicide attempt among people who inject drugs (PWID).

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from a prospective cohort study of PWID followed bi-annually between 2004 and 2011. SETTING: Montréal, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Seven-hundred and ninety-seven PWID who reported injection drug use in the previous six months, contributing to a total of 4,460 study visits. The median number of visits per participant was 5 (Interquartile range: 3-8). MEASUREMENTS: An interviewer-administered questionnaire eliciting information on socio-demographic factors, detailed information on substance use patterns and related behaviours, mental health markers and suicide attempt. The primary exposure variables examined were past-month use of alcohol [heavy ((3) 60 drinks); moderate (1-59 drinks); none], sedative-hypnotics, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine and opioids [regular ((3) 4 days); occasional (1-3 days); none]. The outcome was a binary measure of suicide attempt assessed in reference to the previous six months.

FINDINGS: In multivariate analyses, among licit substances, a positive association was found between heavy alcohol consumption [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-3.75], regular use of sedative-hypnotics (AOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.21-2.95) and subsequent attempted suicide. Among illicit substances, occasional use of cannabis (AOR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.09-3.13) had a positive association with subsequent suicide attempt. No statistically significant association was found for the remaining substances.

CONCLUSION: Among people who inject drugs, use of alcohol, sedative-hypnotics and cannabis, but not cocaine, amphetamine or opioids, appears to be associated with increased likelihood of later attempted suicide. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en