Alcohol and Suicide, Deadly Mix
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports alcohol levels in one out of every four suicide victims were legally drunk. “Alcohol is a component of suicidal behavior,” said Dr. Alex Crosby, author of the report
“It leads to disinhibition, and it can enhance feelings of hopelessness and depression. Alcohol impairs judgment and can lead to much more impulsive behavior.” The study was carried out over 17 states, it was the first to study of its kind that cross racial and ethnic groups.
The data was collected from the National Violent Death Reporting System during 2005 and 2006 of 19,255 suicides. Alcohol was a factor in all groups, with American Indians and Alaskans (37%) and Hispanics (29%) having the highest percentages of blood alcohol level at death.
Younger people and men (25%) were drunk at death more then any other age group, these findings went across all ethic lines. Women (18%) and older people were less likely to commit suicide while intoxicated. “It’s unclear if they get drunk in order to commit suicide, or that when they’re drunk they are more likely to do it,” Dr. May said. “Intoxication may be turned to as a solution but might ultimately trigger the ultimate solution for them — that is, killing themselves.”
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