title: Suicidal behaviours in male and female users of illicit drugs recruited in drug treatment facilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed prevalence of suicidal ideation and plans among illicit drug users and their association with contextual factors, by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study. In a sample of 511 illicit drug users recruited during spring 2012 in drug treatment and prevention facilities in Catalonia (Spain), the prevalence of suicidal ideation/plans in the last 12 months was assessed. Poisson regression was used to examine associations between suicidal ideation/plans and various factors (socio-demographic, psychological, illegal drug market activities and marginal income generation activities, which included any reported sex work, stealing, peddling, begging or borrowing on credit from a dealer).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age was 37.9 years (standard deviation: 8.62); 76.3% were men. Suicidal ideation/plans were reported by 30.8% of men and 38.8% of women, with no significant differences by age or gender. Recent aggression (male prevalence ratio [PR]=2.2; female PR=1.4), psychological treatment (male PR=1.2; female PR=1.3) and illegal/marginal income generation activities (male PR=1.5; female PR=1.1) were associated with suicidal ideation/plans. Men who trafficked were more likely to have suicidal ideation/plans (PR=1.3), while prison history was positive for women (PR=1.8) and negative for men (PR=0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of suicidal ideation/plans was high among illicit drug users recruited from healthcare facilities. Besides psychological variables, participation in illegal market activities and crime ought to be considered in drug users' suicidal prevention. Suicide risk needs to be evaluated in drug treatment facilities and psychological status and context contemplated.
authors.affiliation: Drug Abuse Epidemiology Research Group, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques de Barcelona (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arribas-Ibar
authors.affiliation: Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Suelves
authors.affiliation: Research Unit on Impact, Risk and Prevention of Mental Disorders, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat (Barcelona), Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Niubò
authors.affiliation: Drug Abuse Epidemiology Research Group, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques de Barcelona (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: adomingo@imim.es.
authors.forename: Antònia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domingo-Salvany
authors.affiliation: Public Health Agency of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: T Brugal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Agresión reciente; Crime; Crimen; Drug trafficking; Gender; Ideación y plan suicida; Illicit drug use; Recent aggression; Sexo; Suicidal ideation and plans; Tráfico de drogas; Uso de drogas ilícitas