New Research Examines Suicide Risks Among Drug Users
About the Research Heading link
Over the past two decades, suicide rates and opioid usage have increased concurrently in the United States. Among those who use injection drugs and opioids, suicide rates are higher than the general population. SPH’s Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti, PhD, research associate professor with the Community Outreach Intervention Projects (COIP), is leading a new study exploring what may be driving suicide risk in this vulnerable population.
Her study, “Addressing Suicidal Risk in Harm Reduction Services for People Who Inject Drugs,” earned seed funding for the 2019-20 academic year from the School of Public Health Office of Research Services. The project will gather qualitative data from people who use injection drugs and have experienced suicidal thoughts or behavior over the past year.
“We know people who inject have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but we don’t really have in-depth information about their experiences,” Mackesy-Amiti said. “We’re seeing [rising suicide rates and opioid usage rates] happen at the same time, and the feeling is that it’s not coincidental.”
The project will seek volunteer subjects at COIP field stations offering syringe exchanges across Chicago. Interviews will focus on understanding experiences with mental health treatment, why people may not be accessing treatment and how overdose risks fit in with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
In particular, Mackesy-Amiti says the project aims to shed light on links between suicidal thoughts and overdose. People in a fragile mental state may engage in risky behaviors that would not qualify as an intentional overdose. She notes that some proportion of deaths by overdose may be suicides, but researchers have few tools to make such a determination.
One outgrowth of the research results could be the development of mobile health interventions, helping to identify proximal risk factors and craft interventions in real time as a person is experiencing suicidal thoughts and behavior. Interventions could be useful for people experiencing relapse after treatment for substance abuse, which could be a higher risk period for someone with a history of suicidal thoughts.
Mackesy-Amiti says the study will build on her current research examining emotional regulation among people who use drugs and how regulation relates to risky behaviors such as sharing syringes. She has conducted studies using mobile phones to collect ecological momentary assessment data in real time, and she says that strategy could be useful in further investigations of suicide risk.
“It’s always a challenge doing research on suicide risk, particularly when you have to address concerns of the university,” Mackesy-Amiti said. “But this is really necessary. We have to figure out how to conduct this research while being aware of the safety risks.”