Drug addiction and Suicide

Suicide is considered the eighth-dominant cause of death in the United States. Statistically, the unfortunate number of people who take their life is 29,000 annually. Half of that amount of all suicide attempts attributed to persons who were under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs. Fully executed suicides took place amongst 25 percent of drug abusers and those with alcohol abuse problems. There is an alarming number of suicide rate, reported amongst younger adults under the age of 30. The astonishing number of suicides among young people nationwide increased drastically in the recent years. The suicide rate as a cause of death, climbed to be the third leading cause of death for young people age of 15 to 24 year old. A chilling statistics shows that the teens who commit suicide have a history of alcohol and drug use, rose up fifty percent. Many other teens who attempted a suicide currently suffer from some type of depression. Substance use and suicide risk One of the major basis of suicide and substance abuse mainly develops from a dramatic personal loss or breaking point in the persons life. This includes death of someone close to the person, divorce or separation, traumatic event, accidents, loss of carrier or depleting of funds. Any person susceptible to this type of at times unexpected life changes, and it can take a toll on the person entire world. Many people find themselves at the end of the rope, with no prospects of improvements or getting better. All

of these matters can cause especially vulnerable person, or the person with drug addiction problem lead to suicide thinking, or an actual execution. In many cases, the drug addicts become completely defenseless against a possibility of committing a suicide. As their judgment is clouded by drug consumption, and the mind infused by hallucinations, they may become victim of their own afflictions. Nevertheless, there is a staggering amount of drug addicts, who do not necessarily undergo some dramatic events in their life, however experiencing desolating due to their drug or alcohol addiction. While the person with drug addiction and suicide ponders over the consequences brought upon by his drug addiction, he or she may be driven to despair to commit unthinkable act. The addict state of mind is amplified by the events that take place in his life, and worsen progressively. Even the slightest provocation, can turn the addict in to a regrettable state of being, causing irrational thinking and fatal outcome. According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, by U.S. Department of Health Services : The connection between substance abuse and suicide has not been sufficiently well understood, said Richard McKeon, Ph.D., M.P.H., Public Health Adviser for Suicide Prevention at SAMHSAs Center for Mental Health Services. People in both the mental health and substance abuse fields have likely had experiences that would demonstrate the connection, but I think that probably few

appreciate the magnitude of the relationship between substance abuse and suicide. http://www.samhsa.gov/samhsanewsletter/Volume_17_Number_1/ SubstanceAbuseAndSuicide.aspx RISK FACTORS FOR COMPLETED SUICIDE There is a considerable difference associated between the groups of people who attempt suicide and those who execute one. According to some recent statistics ,women are three times more likely than men to attempt suicide, however men are three times more likely to commit suicide. Regardless of these distinguished statistics, suicide attempters are at a greater risk of completed suicide. The following are the risk factors for completed suicide in substance abusers: Depression. The depression comes as the high price amongst young males in their teen years. Between struggling alcoholics, the majority percentage of suicides takes place among men. To compare both groups effected by depression, alcoholic men reportedly commit suicide in their fifth and sixth-derived from decades of alcoholism. Males with depression, without substance abuse problems, continue to be at the high suicide risk beyond age sixty. Nevertheless, drug abusers have a shorter life span prior to suicide. Long term Use. Continues drug and alcohol abuse makes the addicts prone to suicide attempts. Most of all alcoholic suicides occur among ongoing drinkers, and alcohol consumption rapidly becomes a risk for suicide..

Mental Conditions. Dual conditions- mental along with drug abuse problem, specifically depression, have become a major reason for the suicide of alcoholics and drug abusers. The massive number of suicide victims exhibited depressive symptoms at the time of their death. Other known mental condition such as schizophrenia , mania, and ASP are also associated with suicide in substance abusers.

Prevention It has been reported that in the time prior to their suicides, substance abusers often see a doctor or are hospitalized for psychiatric problems. The patients who reveal their suicide thoughts, may still be ambivalent about their decision to end their life. Combination treatment for substance abuse problems along with the mental health problems of these individuals can help them to reconsider their intensions and unhealthy thoughts in regards to their fate. Figuring out potential suicide victims between the drug abusers is nearly impossible. Unfortunately, a lot medical care providers often fail to recognize the fatal combination of alcoholism and drug abuse in patients enwrapped in the signs of depressionresulting in suicide. For those patients, who are substance abuser who achieved suicide plans or has recently attempted suicide may need hospitalization, detoxification, or rehabilitation designed to encourage abstinence from alcohol and drugs abuse. Establishing , that a person at risk of suicide seeks treatment for mental health and substance abuse problems, maximum support

from family and friends, and a supervision by a health-care professionals, can drastically reduce the risk of suicide.

Here are some references from NIDA, for families seeking help and treatment options:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) offers more than just suicide preventionit can also help with a host of issues, including drug and alcohol abuse, and can connect individuals with a nearby professional. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) and Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) are alliances of nonprofit, self-help support organizations for patients and families dealing with a variety of mental disorders. Both have State and local affiliates throughout the country and may be especially helpful for patients with co morbid conditions. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) maintains a Web site (www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov) that shows the location of residential, outpatient, and hospital inpatient treatment programs for drug addiction and suicide throughout the country. This information is also accessible by calling 1-800662-HELP. The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry each have physician locator tools posted on their Web sites at www.aaap.org and www.aacap.org, respectively.

source http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drugaddiction-treatment/frequently-asked-questions/where-canfamily-members-go-information-treatment

If you are looking for help for your loved one who is struggling with drug addiction, please call us today at Drug Addiction Hot Line at (855-829-9148) http://addictionhotlinetoday.com/ dr25ug912addict