Investigation of the relationship between substance abuse, smoking, alcohol drinking and attempted suicide in children and adolescents

As one of the major public health concerns, the progressive increase in the suicide rate among children and adolescents is associated with biological, psychological and sociological aspects.

This study aimed investigating the demographic characteristics and the relationship between substance abuse, smoking and alcohol consumption by parents and children with suicide attempt history.

The present case-control study was conducted on suicide attempters aged 6-18 years in 2019 in Sanandaj, Iran. The sampling method was random and based on the chronological order of referrals to hospitals. 44 individuals including 26 girls and 18 boys in the case group and 42 individuals in the control group were matched in terms of age, sex, and rural or urban residence. Data were collected using a self-made checklist and the BECK suicide questionnaire. Statistical data were analyzed by SPSS-22 software.

The mean age of the subjects was 14.29 in the case group, and 13.5 years in the control group. Among suicide attempters, 13 were smokers, 12 were alcoholic consumers, and 7 were substance abusers. As opposed to the insignificant effect of maternal consumption of alcohol and substance, and smoking there were 28 smokers, 13 alcoholic consumers, and 10 substance abusers among fathers, indicating the significant role of fathers in the suicide attempts of children (P<0.05).

Due to the prevalence of suicide in Kurdistan and its concurrence with the use of drugs, cigarettes and alcohol, effective planning and intervention by policymakers and health and social authorities seem imperative.