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Abstract
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In New Research Poster 5.4, "Variation in Rates of Intentional Ingestion of Substances for Suspected Suicide Attempts and Substance Abuse Based on Age Among Us Adolescents and Adults," published in the October 2019 Scientific Proceedings supplement issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, (2019;58:S246), the greater than or equal to symbol (≥) was incorrectly reversed by authors in the original publication to show a less than or equal to symbol (≤). This typographical error did not impact the science as reported and the authors regret this error. See the abstract below with the correct symbol (shown in bold). 5.4 VARIATION IN RATES OF INTENTIONAL INGESTION OF SUBSTANCES FOR SUSPECTED SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BASED ON AGE AMONG US ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS.
OBJECTIVEs Approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States have a diagnosable mental illness. In 2017, suicide rates for adolescents (ages 15-19 years) increased to the highest point since 2000. Drug overdoses have been rising since 1999, and overdose deaths among those ages 15-24 years of age reached the highest rate in 2017 since 2011. This study seeks to examine differences in trends in suicide attempts and substance abuse via intentional ingestions in US adolescents and adults from 2007 to 2017.
METHODS The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) publishes annual reports that are publicly available online with de-identified information reported to all Poison Control Centers (PCCs) in the United States on human poison exposures. Aggregate data were obtained from 2007 to 2017 Reports on the number of cases for intentional ingestions for suspected suicide and substance abuse among people ages 6-12, 13-19, and ≥20 years. A one-way ANOVA was conducted twice to determine significance between the 3 age groups for suicide and substance abuse rates.
RESULTS A total of 9033 cases were reported from 2007 to 2017 for ages 6-20 years for suspected suicide and substance-abuse exposures. Excluded were 24 "unknown age" cases, leaving 9009 for the study. For suspected suicide cases, there was a significant difference between the 3 age groups (F2,30 = 125403.50, p < 0.001) with the highest rate among those ages ≥20 years followed by those ages 13-19 and then 6-12 years. Suspected suicide rates were steady for each age group from 2007 to 2017. For substance abuse cases, there was a significant difference in trends between the 3 groups (F2,30 = 2351.82, p < 0.001), with the highest rate observed among those ≥20 years of age followed by those ages 13-19 years and 6-12 years. Substance abuse rates for ≥20 years increased from 2007 to 2012, dropped to the lowest in 2013, and then increased from 2014 to 2017. Rates for youth ages 13-19 years decreased from 2007 to 2012, reached the highest point in 2013, and then decreased from 2014 to 2017. Rates were steady among youth ages 6-12 years from 2007 to 2017.
CONCLUSIONS Substance abuse rates are rising in those ≥20 years old but declining for those ages 13-19 years. These results prompt us to focus on adults for substance use prevention interventions. Although substance abuse trends show a decline in youth ages 13-19 years, suicide rates via ingestion remain steady, demanding scrutiny of the current health delivery system in prioritizing this group for screening and suicide prevention. Further directions include identifying commonly used substances for self-harm and reducing open access to them among adolescents. © 2019 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Language: en |