Consumo de sustancias ilícitas y suicidio consumado desde una perspectiva de género

Abstract

The literature indicates that being female, smoking tobacco, having a history of physical and sexual abuse, suffering from depression, and alcohol and cannabis use are associated with suicidal ideation. If cocaine, amphetamines and/or multiple substance abuse are also consumed, there is a significant association with suicide attempts. However, there are few studies that analyze substance use in women who die by suicide. Although different studies relate substance use to completed suicide in women, especially alcohol use, it is debated whether the presence of other psychiatric disorders, in addition to substance use, could partially explain the associations between substance use and suicide in women; therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether the use of the main illicit substances is a risk factor for death by completed suicide in women. In this sample of women, the use of major illicit substances does not appear to be a risk factor for completed suicide.