Reducing Drug Overdoses that Lead to Suicide

"While more people in America kill themselves with a firearm than by any other means, the majority of people who attempt suicide do it by overdosing. The relationship between drugs and suicide is complicated because drugs are both a means of suicide and a risk factor for it. They are a means because they offer the seemingly peaceful prospect of falling asleep and never waking up. People may not have access to a gun, know how to direct their car's exhaust, be willing to hang themselves, or want to jump from a high place, but swallowing a bunch of pills is easy and seemingly painless."

"Drugs are also a risk factor for suicide because people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol tend to lose their inhibitions and take risks that they normally wouldn't take. According to one medical professional, "As the consequences of addiction pile up, from legal problems and damaged relationships to financial ruin and job loss, individuals may lose all hope that things can get better. For some, it starts to seem like there are only two paths to relief; spiraling back into drug use or death.""

"There is a third path, to try to stop using, but that can have negative consequences, too. Stopping can mean that painful emotions, which drugs have suppressed, return in force, leaving someone vulnerable and depressed. Alternatively, the person might be clear-headed enough to act on suicidal thoughts and plans. People who are dependent on drugs or alcohol are five times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. For women, a substance abuse disorder increases the risk of suicide by six-and-a-half times."

"There are several ways to restrict access to prescription medications. Cracking down on doctors w""

Most suicide attempts involve overdosing rather than firearms. Drugs can function as a method because they offer an easy, seemingly peaceful way to die, especially when other means are unavailable or undesirable. Drugs also increase risk by reducing inhibitions and encouraging dangerous behavior. Addiction can produce escalating consequences such as legal trouble, relationship damage, financial ruin, and job loss, which can lead to hopelessness and a belief that only drug use or death provides relief. Stopping drug use can also be risky because suppressed emotions may return and depression may intensify, or clear-headedness may enable action on suicidal plans. People dependent on substances are far more likely to attempt suicide, with women facing even higher risk. Limiting access to prescription medications, including blister tabs and smaller pack sizes, can reduce some overdoses.

Read at Psychology Today