Citation

Carretta CM, Burgess AW, Dowdell EB, Caldwell BA. J. Nurse Pract. 2018; 14(7): 552-558.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.nurpra.2018.05.010

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The use of nonmedical prescription drugs in adolescent suicide is a critical issue. This study examined the toxicology of drugs found in a sample of 134 medical examiner records. The majority of adolescents died at home of asphyxia, had a trauma history, psychiatric illness, and a history of child abuse. Thirty-seven types of prescription drugs were found on autopsy; most were not prescribed.

FINDINGS from this study suggest that prescription drug misuse has a potent impact on adolescent risk factors. Identifying neurobiological and contextual factors associated with suicidality is critical for prevention efforts by health providers. © 2018 Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; suicide; abuse; toxicology; prescription drugs