Citation

Wang J, Xu Y, Guo L, Deng JX, Huang JH, Huang GL, Gao X, Wu H, Pan SY, Lu CY. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017; 178: 20-27.

Affiliation

Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, China. Electronic address: luciyong@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.03.044

PMID

28624602

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The nature of the relationship between the non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) and suicide has not been clearly elucidated. Some studies have suggested that the relationship between substance use and suicidal ideation may be spurious and could be explained by other variables.

METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was performed in Guangzhou. A total of 5853 students completed questionnaires and were included in the study. NMUPD, alcohol use, illicit drug use, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and suicidal behaviors were assessed. The mediating effects of depressive symptoms and sleep quality on the relationship between NMUPD and suicidal behaviors were examined using a structural equation model.

RESULTS: In the simple model without mediation, a positive relationship between NMUPD and suicidal behaviors in adolescents was found, which was independent of effects from the use of other substances. Both depressive symptoms and sleep quality were significant mediators of this relationship.

CONCLUSION: Public health and educational professionals should survey depressive symptoms and sleep quality and provide interventions when managing suicidal behaviors among adolescents engaging in NMUPD.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Depressive symptoms; Non-medical use of prescription drugs; Sleep quality; Structural equation model; Suicidal behaviors