Children whose parents abuse opioids more likely to attempt suicide

Researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Pittsburgh found that children of parents who use opioids have an increased risk of attempting suicide. 

The suicide rate among young people in the United States has risen in the past 15 years. Over the same time period, opioid use and abuse in adults also has increased considerably. In a study published this week in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers found that opioid use by a parent is associated with a doubling of the risk of suicide attempts by their children.

Of the children whose parents used opioids, 678 (0.37%) attempted suicide. Of the sons and daughters of parents who did not use opioids, 212 (0.14%) made a suicide attempt. The results were statistically significant even when adjusted for child age and sex, depression or substance use disorder in child or parent, and history of a suicide attempt in a parent.

“These findings demonstrate that opioid use by a parent or parents doubles the risk for suicidal behavior by their children,” said David A. Brent, psychiatrist and chair of suicide studies at the University of Pittsburgh, also an author on the paper. “The epidemics of adult opiate abuse and child suicidal behavior appear to be linked, and the disturbing upward trends in mortality due to opiates and due to child suicide may have common roots.”

Source: U Of Chicago News http://bit.ly/2RVkASH

Leave a Reply