Major Finding: Risk for suicide ideation and/or attempt was higher in young adolescents who report drinking alcohol as preteenagers (adjusted odds ratio 2.40), compared with self-reported nondrinkers. Risk remains significantly elevated when they are resurveyed as older adolescents (OR, 3.13), but not as adults (OR, 1.71).
Data Source: An initial and two follow-up surveys of 10,417 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
Disclosures: None was reported.
ORLANDO – Adolescents who start drinking alcohol before age 13 are at a significantly increased risk for suicide ideation and attempts, even when controlling for depression, psychiatric treatment, and other risk factors.
An emphasis on interventions to delay or prevent early alcohol initiation therefore could be beneficial, reported Monica H. Swahn, Ph.D., associate professor, Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta.
Compared with self-reported nondrinkers, risk for suicide ideation and/or attempt was higher in young adolescents who reported drinking alcohol as preteenagers (adjusted odds ratio, 2.40). Risk remained elevated when the same cohort was resurveyed as older teens (adjusted OR, 3.13), Dr. Swahn reported.
However, the risk for subsequent suicide was no longer significant when the same participants were surveyed as adults (OR, 1.71). Alcohol use, especially early alcohol use, may increase capacity for suicide behaviors. “Most of us talk about the inhibition, but there is also an indirect effect–alcohol can increase other risks.” Adverse effects on brain development and increased tolerance to pain are examples. Early initiation also might be an indicator of family dysfunction or poor coping strategies, Dr. Swahn said.
“Until recently, very little research has examined the role of early alcohol use initiation, prior to age 13, as a specific risk factor for suicide,” Dr. Swahn said.
To find out more, she and her associates conducted a secondary analysis of three prospective waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Of the total 10,417 participants, 13.8% reported drinking alcohol before the age of 13.
The first survey in 1995 included a nationally representative group of adolescents in grades 7 through 12; the next wave of data was collected the following year; and a third wave assessed the same group in 2008. Only participants who reported suicide ideation were asked about an attempt, so the two variables were combined.
The adolescent health study only includes self-reported data, a potential limitation of this study. No inclusion of any other circumstances around early alcohol use or suicidal behavior, as well as no consideration of changes in development or life circumstances, were other possible limitations, Dr. Swahn said.
Future study could examine vulnerable subgroups, such as those who lost friends or family to suicide or those who experienced childhood maltreatment. In addition, Dr. Swahn would like to explore any patterns by gender or race/ethnicity.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provided a research grant for the study.