NCJ Number
219692
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Health Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 175-181
Date Published
August 2007
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined the cross-sectional associations between preteen alcohol use and subsequent suicide ideation and suicide attempts for boys and girls in a nationally representative sample of high school students.
Abstract
The study found that alcohol use by adolescents, particularly preteen alcohol use, was a significant risk factor for both suicide ideation and suicide attempts among both boys and girls. Among study participants (n=13,639 high school students in grades 9-12), 25.4 percent reported drinking before they were 13 years old. Preteen alcohol use initiation was statistically significantly associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts compared to nondrinkers. Increased efforts to delay and reduce early alcohol use are needed, since they may reduce suicide attempts by adolescents. Analyses were conducted with data from the 2005 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which includes a representative sample (n=13,639) of high school students in grades 9-12 in the United States. Cross-sectional logistic regression analyses were conducted in order to determine the associations between early alcohol use and reports of suicide ideation and suicide attempts for boys and girls, controlling for demographic characteristics, substance use, involvement in physical fights, weapon carrying, physical abuse by a dating partner, sexual assault, and sadness. 3 tables and 39 references