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01-04-2017 | Original Paper

Substance Use Disorders and Poverty as Prospective Predictors of Adult First-Time Suicide Ideation or Attempt in the United States

Authors: Ronald G. Thompson Jr., Dana Alonzo, Mei-Chen Hu, Deborah S. Hasin

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 3/2017

Abstract

This study examined whether substance use disorders (SUD) and poverty predicted first-time suicide ideation or attempt in United States national data. Respondents without prior histories of suicide ideation or attempt at Wave 1 of the NESARC (N = 31,568) were analyzed to determine the main and interactive effects of SUD and poverty on first-time suicide ideation or attempt by Wave 2, 3 years later. Adjusted for controls, poverty (AOR = 1.35, CI = 1.05–1.73) and drug use disorders (AOR = 2.10, CI = 1.07–4.14) independently increased risk for first-time suicide ideation or attempt at Wave 2. SUD and poverty did not interact to differentially increase risk for first-time suicide ideation or attempt, prior to or after adjustment for controls. This study reinforces the importance of SUD and poverty in the risk for first-time suicide ideation or attempt. Public health efforts should target messages to drug users and the impoverished that highlight their increased risk for first-time suicide.

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Title: Substance Use Disorders and Poverty as Prospective Predictors of Adult First-Time Suicide Ideation or Attempt in the United States
Authors: Ronald G. Thompson Jr.
Dana Alonzo
Mei-Chen Hu
Deborah S. Hasin
Publication date: 01-04-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0045-z

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Substance Use Disorders and Poverty as Prospective Predictors of Adult First-Time Suicide Ideation or Attempt in the United States

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