@article{ref1,
title="Distinguishing between suicides and accidental deaths in substance-related deaths (UK, 2001-2007)",
journal="Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology and biological psychiatry",
year="2011",
author="Vento, Alessandro E. and Pompili, Maurizio and Schifano, Fabrizio and Corkery, John Martin and Innamorati, Marco and Girardi, Paolo and Ghodse, Hamid",
volume="35",
number="5",
pages="1279-1283",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Substance-related deaths account for a great number of suicides. Aim To investigate levels and characteristics of suicide verdicts, as opposed to accidental deaths, in substance misusers. METHODS: Psychological autopsy study of cases from the UK National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) during the period 2001-2007. RESULTS: Between January 2001 and December 2007, 2108 suicides for whom autopsy was carried out were reported to the np-SAD. Typical suicide victims were White and older than 50 (respectively 95% and 41% of cases). Medications, especially antidepressants (44%), were prescribed to 87% of victims. Significantly fewer suicides than controls presented with positive blood toxicological results for illicit drugs (namely: cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy-type drugs, cannabis, GHB/GBL, etc.) and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide prevention programmes should devote specific attention to deaths among substance-misusers who are at high risk of fatal intentional self-harm. Specific characteristics distinguish those at risk; caregivers should be better educated as to what these factors are.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0278-5846",
doi="10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.02.014",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.02.014"
}