Suicide is the act of someone taking their own life and is often closely intertwined with depression and substance abuse. In 2019, the CDC reported that foul play ranked as the tenth leading cause of death across the United States. For people between the ages of ten and fourteen, fifteen and twenty-four, and twenty-five and thirty-four, suicide ranked as the second leading cause of death. It was preceded only by accidental injuries.1
foul play rates have shown a dramatic increase over the past two decades, seeing a 30% rise between 1999 and 2020. Moreover, while suicide rates have seen small decreases over the past two years, there were still 45,855 deaths from foul play in 2020 alone.2
Unfortunately, suicide and addiction often seem to go hand-in-hand. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that in 2011, approximately 230,000 emergency department visits were the result of drug-related suicide attempts. Nearly all of those emergency department visits involved the use of over-the-counter medications or prescription drugs.3
SAMHSA has found that alcohol and drugs often play significant roles in suicide deaths:3
There are two main reasons why alcohol and drug addiction may co-occur so frequently with suicide.
Most substances that distract someone from internal turmoil work by acting on the central nervous system, which slows brain functioning. While short-term substance use may contribute to relief and even euphoria, in the long term, people often find themselves struggling with compounded depressive effects.
Secondly, alcohol and drug use contribute to increased disinhibition, making it easier for people to follow through on ideas that they would not do when sober.
Numerous factors may place someone at higher risk for both substance use disorders and suicidal ideation (thinking) and behaviors.3
Research suggests that at least 50% of suicides are related to depressive and other mood disorders. At the beginning of the 2000s, the leading causes of unnatural death worldwide were depression (30%) followed by substance use disorders (18%).4 Inversely, research has also found that 15% of people with depression, 15% of people with alcohol addiction, and 10% of people with opiate addiction will likely die by suicide.5
These numbers are not altogether surprising, considering the toxic and cyclical relationship between mood disorders, substance use disorders, and suicide. Someone experiencing a mood disorder, like depression, may find themselves struggling to cope with their overwhelming feelings of sadness, emptiness, loss of enjoyment, and fatigue.
Substances like alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, and marijuana may be seen as methods to temporarily transport people to a more enjoyable and, at times, euphoric state. This solution, however, is short-lived. With extended use, many substances elicit depressive symptoms aside from pre-existing mental conditions, which can make the original depression harder to treat.
It is important to note that many people who struggle with drug addiction and substance abuse may never experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors, just like many who struggle with suicidal ideation may not develop substance use disorder. However, it seems several risk factors make certain populations more vulnerable to a dual diagnosis of suicidal ideation and SUD.
People who are at increased risk of co-occurring suicidal ideation and substance abuse include:
Dealing with both addiction and foul play ideation can feel daunting and scary, but there is hope. With help, anyone can overcome this dark period in their life. Read on to learn more about treatments for foul play ideation and substance use disorder.
If you are struggling with a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and suicidal ideation, it is essential to treat both disorders. Because drug addiction is a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and vice versa, leaving one disorder untreated makes it easier to fall back on habits that trigger a relapse. Taking a combined approach of treatment for suicide prevention and treatment for drug addiction or substance use disorder is often essential to preventing relapse and helping on the road to recovery.
The National Institute of Health suggests therapy can be highly effective in treating co-occurring SUD and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.6
One widely used therapy is CBT or cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT helps people gain greater awareness of their patterns of thoughts and beliefs, so they can replace negative systems of thinking and behaviors with more positive ones. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another popular therapy that teaches mindfulness, emotional coping, and communication skills to help patients manage intense emotions and control impulsive behaviors.
If you are looking for help treating teen suicide or adolescent suicidal behavior, therapies like brief strategic family therapy, multidimensional family therapy, and multisystem therapy may be helpful. Other beneficial therapies may include contingency management and assertive community treatment.6
Education and support are critical components of suicide prevention. Learning to recognize the signs that someone may be considering foul play is essential to take preventative action.
People contemplating suicide may find it challenging to socialize and begin to withdraw from relationships and activities they once enjoyed. This behavior makes the individual feel even more isolated. In these moments, support and friendship can become vital lifelines.
Currently, the FDA has only approved one drug (clozapine) for suicide reduction for patients with schizophrenia. However, many substances used to treat depression are also used to target depressive symptoms that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
When it comes to drug addiction and alcohol addiction treatment, care providers may prescribe one of several medications to help reduce cravings and control withdrawal symptoms. It is vital to make sure your care provider is aware of both aspects of the dual-diagnosis to prevent potential drug interactions.
If you or a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek support immediately. You do not have to go through this alone. Below are a few of the resources that many have found helpful in moments of crisis.
We’re committed to fostering unbroken recovery. We provide treatment for addiction and dual diagnosis that is both life-long and life-changing. At Stages of Recovery, our continuum of care helps individuals struggling with addiction become the people they were meant to be.
If you’re looking for a safe recovery program for yourself or someone you know, there is hope. Call us today.
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