The Cedar Project: correlates of attempted suicide among young Aboriginal people who use injection and non-injection drugs in two Canadian cities.
OBJECTIVE
Aboriginal leadership and families are deeply concerned about the rate of suicide attempt among their young people. The objectives of this study were to (a) describe the prevalence of suicide attempt and (b) to describe correlates of vulnerability to suicide attempts within a cohort of young Aboriginal people who use drugs in 2 Canadian cities. We aimed to situate the findings within the context of historical and lifetime trauma. Study design. The Cedar Project is a prospective cohort study involving 605 young Aboriginal people aged 14-30 who use drugs in Vancouver and Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.


METHODS
Multivariable logistic regression modelling identified independent predictors of suicide attempts. Estimates of adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.


RESULTS
In multivariable analysis, residing in Prince George (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.64), ever having been sexually abused (AOR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.39, 3.08), and ever having overdosed (AOR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.53, 3.42) independently predicted lifetime attempted suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicide prevention and intervention programs must address historical and lifetime trauma among Aboriginal young people who struggle with substance dependence.
Moniruzzaman
Akm
A
Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Pearce
Margo E
ME
Patel
Sheetal H
SH
Chavoshi
Negar
N
Teegee
Mary
M
Adam
Warner
W
Christian
Wayne M
WM
Henderson
Earl
E
Craib
Kevin J P
KJ
Schechter
Martin T
MT
Spittal
Patricia M
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult