Sometimes referred to as the hidden risk of addiction, suicide is all too often tied to the use of drugs and alcohol. According to a report released by the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. Substance abuse increases the likelihood of self-harm and suicide, and it is often used as a means of committing suicide.
One in three people who die from suicide commits the act while under the influence of drugs. In most cases, these people are using opiates like heroin, oxycodone, or alcohol. The third leading method used in suicide cases is poisoning, and drugs make up roughly 75 percent of these cases.
Why Addiction and Suicide Are Linked
Why is suicide so often the fate of people who struggle with substance abuse and addiction? The answer often depends on the person affected, and it’s hard to pinpoint an exact answer when self-harm turns into the finality of suicide.
When under the influence, many people lose their inhibitions. As a result, they take risks that they would not normally take under ordinary circumstances. Those risks can lead to events – accidental or intentional – that result in death.
Many addicts commit suicide in an attempt to relieve or escape anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition. In many cases, the condition plaguing them is the result of their drug or alcohol use. Did you know occurrences of major depression are anywhere from two to four times higher among addicts versus the general population?
What to Expect When Stopping Substance Abuse
Suicidal thoughts or tendencies often occur when an addict stops using the substance at the center of their addiction. Although several scientific studies have been dedicated to the link between addiction and suicide, it is often overlooked. Why?
Suicide prevention begins with treatment. While the suicide rate for patients coping with untreated substance use disorders is reported to be as high as 45 percent, only about 11 percent get treatment. Why such a small percentage? In many cases, stigma plays an integral role. And once a person seeks treatment, a lack of suicide prevention training can dramatically contribute to the high percentage of suicide cases.
When a person takes steps to stop using or continues to abuse addictive substances, they face a higher risk of death from suicide. Proper diagnosis and treatment of addiction is an essential part of recovery.
How to Help an Addicted Person to Recover
We worry about the addicts in our lives because they are at a higher risk of developing a disease, being involved in a serious accident, and suicide. Preventing suicide requires a community approach; a combination of medical and personal intervention are often needed. But in the end, the success of an addict’s recovery depends on the addict. Only they can ensure the effectiveness of treatment, and only they can take the needed steps to end their addiction. You can support them, but the true power lies within their grasp.