Balancing on the edge of death: suicide attempts and life-threatening overdoses among drug addicts.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of prevalence of non-fatal overdoses and suicide attempts and predictors of and co-variation between such behaviours among drug addicts.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Inpatient and outpatient treatment units in Norway.


METHODS
National sample of 2051 drug addicts admitted to treatment in Norway in 1992-93.


METHODS
Self-reports of suicide attempts and of life-threatening overdoses from structured interviews with therapists.


RESULTS
Almost half (45.5%) the clients reported having experienced one or more life-threatening overdoses. A third (32.7%) reported one or more suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were more often reported among those who had overdosed (odds ratio (OR) = 6.3), and the number of life-threatening overdoses and number of suicide attempts were positively and moderately associated (Pearson's r = 0.39). Drug addicts who had exhibited both life-threatening behaviours were characterized by polydrug use, poor social functioning and HIV risk-taking behaviour. Suicide attempters were also characterized by psychiatric problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The substantial co-variation between suicide attempts and drug overdose suggests some common underlying causal factors. These seem to be related to heavy drug use and poor social integration.
National Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research, Oslo, Norway. ingeborg.m.rossow@sifa.no
I
I
Rossow
G
G
Lauritzen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*