HealthDay News — Drug-related suicide attempts increased over a recent six-year period, with dramatic increases seen among young and middle-aged adults, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Suicide attempts involving prescription medications and other drugs jumped by 51% among people aged 12 years and older between 2005 and 2011, reported the agency.
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The most significant increases in emergency department visits for drug-related suicide attempts, occurred among adults younger than 30 years, which is up 58% over the six years studied, and people aged 45 to 64 years, who experienced a 104% spike in drug-related suicide attempts.
If you believe a patient may be a suicide risk, SAMSHA suggests these resources:
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center at http://www.sprc.org
- Suicide Prevention Hotline http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or 1-800-2730-TALK
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/index.html.
