Prescription drug and alcohol use is a risk factor for suicide. This particular risk has become a potential target for intervention of suicide risk. Those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are at a 10 to 14 times greater risk of suicide. Binge drinking and substance misuse can increase an individual’s vulnerability to suicidal ideation. Adults above the age of 25 tend to show different alcohol consumption and prescription drug misuse patterns than young adults (18-25 years old). This study aims to make clear the differential risk for suicidal ideation and attempts that binge drinking and prescription drug misuse pose in young adulthood compared to those above the age of 25.
This study took data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2015 through 2019. The dataset contained 269,078 individuals. Participants’ demographics, weighted prevalence rates of binge drinking, prescription drug misuse, suicide ideation, and attempts were all measured. Binge drinking was defined as having more than three drinks (if female) or more than 4 (if male) alcoholic beverages on the same day within a few hours of each other. College age consisted of individuals between 18 and 25, while anyone 26 or older was considered above college age.
The result of this study showed that individuals with the presence of any past-month binge drinking and prescription drug misuse were more strongly related to past-year suicide ideation and attempts in adults above college than among college-aged adults. This could be due to binge drinking being more normative in college, and seen as a way to fit in. Prescription drug misuse showed similar findings; it was more strongly related to suicide ideation and attempts in individuals above college age. However, regardless of age, the more binge drinking and prescription drug misuse become more prevalent for an individual, the risk for suicide ideation and association behaviors increases.
Takeaway: Regardless of age, the more binge drinking and prescription drug misuse become normative for an individual, their risk for suicide ideation and association behaviors increases.