Addiction Related Suicide on the Rise–Now what?
Unbeknownst to the addict, the damaging effects of addiction are not lost on those closest to him or her. Watching a loved one’s life slowly slip away can be heartbreaking while feeling helpless to do anything about it.
Though it may be a worse-case scenario that no one wants to think about, addiction related suicide rates continue to rise along with ongoing increases in addiction rates in general. Whether you’re a loved one confined to the sidelines or someone who struggles with an addiction problem, there are certain things you can do to reduce the likelihood of experiencing the very worst of what addiction has to offer.
Addiction Related Suicide Rates
As far suicide rates go, substance abuse practices have a considerable influence on the rates themselves as well as the circumstances surrounding suicide occurrences. According to Psychology Today, the effects of substance abuse practices on suicide rates play out in the following ways:
- The likelihood of attempting suicide increases six-fold for substance abusers compared to the general population
- Alcohol and drug abuse rank second only to mental illness as risk factors for suicide
- One out of every three suicide fatalities involves some form of substance abuse
- 75 percent of poison-induced suicide deaths result from drugs
Call our helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) to see if your insurance will help pay your rehab costs.
Increased Awareness of Substance Abuse Risks
People with depression are at high risk of substance abuse and suicide.
As heartbreaking as suicide can be, having an increased awareness of the inherent risks surrounding substance abuse can go a long way towards preventing you or someone you know from becoming yet another statistic. Certain risk factors tend to prevail for those most prone to suicide-type behavior.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, risk factors to watch out for include:
- Mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety-based disorders
- Having attempted suicide in the past
- Family history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse
- Incarceration
- Family history of suicide
- The presence of guns in the home
- Family history of mental illness or substance abuse
Catching Substance Abuse Early On
The effects of substance abuse tend to compound over time, slowly but surely diminishing a person’s quality of life with ongoing use. In effect, the further along a person gets in the addiction cycle, the greater the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors to take shape.
As the damaging effects of drugs and alcohol take a direct hit on a person’s emotional state, the potential for developing mental health problems further aggravates the suicide risk, according to Dartmouth College. Once the combined effects of addiction and mental illness take hold, emotional turmoil becomes more so the norm than the exception in one’s everyday life.
https://www.disorders.org/suicide/suicide-warning-signs/
Treatment Considerations
With addiction rates steadily on the rise, it becomes all the more important for family and friends to be vigilant when a loved one falls prey to the effects of drugs and alcohol. While the decision to get needed treatment help ultimately belongs to the person engaged in substance abuse, making it point to understand the works of abuse and addiction can help you spot signs of distress before a bad situation makes a turn for the worse.
If you suspect you or someone you know struggles with addiction and have more questions, or need help finding treatment that meets your needs, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialists.
