A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide – risks and prevention opportunities

Abstract Objective To examine prevalence, demographic, and incident factors associated with opioid-positivity in Illinois suicide decedents who died by causes other than poisoning. Method Cross-sectional study of Illinois’ occurring between January 2015 December 2017. Data come from the National Violent Death Reporting System. We used Chi-square tests to compare decedent circumstance characteristics opioid toxicology screen status. Incident narratives were analyzed obtain physical mental health histories circumstances related fatal injury events. Results Of 1007 non-poisoning screened for opioids, 16.4% opioid-positive. White race, age 75 over, widowed or unknown marital status opioid-positivity. Among opioid-positive decedents, 25% had a history substance use disorder (SUD), 61% depression, 19% anxiety. The majority (52%) firearm, higher percentage opioid-negative decedents. Conclusion overdose crisis largely has not overlapped this study. Overall, our analyses have identified additional risk among However, overlap opioid-positivity, SUD, problems found data suggest several prevention opportunities. These include medication assisted treatment SUD which been shown reduce suicide, screening opioid/benzodiazepine overlap, limiting access lethal means during use. Improved death scene investigations substances Prescription Drug Monitoring Program document prescriptions are needed further understanding role suicide.