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. 2017 Mar;107(3):421-426.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303591. Epub 2017 Jan 19.

Suicide Deaths With Opioid Poisoning in the United States: 1999-2014

Jennifer Brennan Braden  1 , Mark J Edlund  1 , Mark D Sullivan  1
Affiliations

Suicide Deaths With Opioid Poisoning in the United States: 1999-2014

Jennifer Brennan Braden et al. Am J Public Health. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe trends in suicides with opioid poisoning noted as a contributing cause of death.

Methods: Using National Vital Statistics data (1999-2014), we calculated age-adjusted rates of suicide with opioid poisoning (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes T40.0-T40.4) per 100 000 population per year and annual percentage change (APC) in rates. We used Joinpoint regression to examine trends in suicide rates and proportion of suicides involving opioids.

Results: The annual age-adjusted death rate from suicide with opioid poisoning as a contributing cause of death increased from 0.3 per 100 000 in 1999 to 0.7 per 100 000 in 2009 (APC = 8.1%; P < .001), and remained at 0.6 to 0.7 per 100 000 through 2014. The percentage of all suicides with opioid poisoning listed as a contributing cause of death increased from 2.2% in 1999 to 4.4% in 2010 (P < .001). Rates were similar for men and women, higher among Whites than non-Whites, higher in the West, and highest for individuals aged 45 to 64 years.

Conclusions: Opioid involvement in suicides has doubled since 1999. These analyses underscore the need for health care providers to assess suicidal risk in patients receiving opioids.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Suicides With Opioid Poisoning as a Contributing Cause of Death, by Age Group and Year: United States, 1999–2014
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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