The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68067

Jennifer R Havens, MPH, Susan G. Sherman, MPH, PhD, Marcella Sapun, and Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 627 N. Washington Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-2575, jrochuss@jhsph.edu

The objective of this study was to identify correlates of suicidal ideation among young drug users, and to examine the hypothesis that injection drug users (IDUs) were more likely to report suicidal ideation compared with non-injection drug users (NIDUs). Participants included IDUs (n=244) and NIDUs (n=73) from Baltimore, MD, aged 15-30 who began using heroin or cocaine/crack (NIDUs) or injecting drugs (IDUs) within the past 5 years. Survey measures included sociodemographics, suicidal ideation and attempts in the past 6 months, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Chi-square and logistic regression were utilized to identify correlates of suicidal ideation. Of 317 participants, 58% were male, 59% were white and median age was 24. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 27%. IDUs were more likely to report suicidal ideation than NIDUs (31% vs. 14%, p=0.003). Adjusting for age, gender and race, IDUs were 2.4 times more likely to report suicidal ideation (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.1-5.2). However, adjusting for homelessness (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=4.7, 95% CI: 2.2-10.1), CES-D score (AOR=1.1, 95% CI: 1.1-1.2), and homosexual/bisexual identity (AOR=3.8, 95% CI: 1.2-11.9), IDU status was no longer independently associated with suicidal ideation. These results suggest that factors associated with drug users’ lifestyles and mental health status may account for the higher prevalence of suicidal ideation in IDUs versus NIDUs. Further study into these associations appears warranted in an effort to identify avenues for suicide prevention.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants should gain insight into the potential differences in suicide prevention interventions for injection and non-injection drug users.

Keywords: Suicide, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.