Citation

Powell KE, Kresnow MJ, Mercy JA, Potter LB, Swann AC, Frankowski RF, Lee RK, Bayer TL. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2001; 32(1 Suppl): 30-41.

Affiliation

Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, Atlanta, USA. kepowell@dhr.state

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11924693

Abstract

We conducted a case-control study of the association between nearly lethal suicide attempts and facets of alcohol consumption; namely, drinking frequency, drinking quantity, binge drinking, alcoholism, drinking within 3 hours of suicide attempt, and age began drinking. Subjects were 13-34 years of age. In bivariable analyses, all measures were associated with nearly lethal suicide attempts. Odds ratios ranged from 2.4 for alcoholism to 7.0 for drinking within 3 hours of attempt. All exposure variables except age began drinking exhibited a J-shaped relationship between alcohol exposure and nearly lethal suicide attempt. After controlling for potential confounders and other measures of alcohol exposure, drinking within 3 hours of attempt remained most strongly (odds ratios > 6) associated. Alcoholism remained significantly associated in most models, but at lower strength.