Guest Opinion: Substance abuse, suicide on rise in CA
Substance use disorder and suicide are on the rise in California. We often see the two mental health issues co-occurring, each with potentially deadly outcomes.
The link between substance abuse and suicide hasn't always been known and still isn't completely understood. But we can now say with certainty that substance misuse significantly increases the risk of suicide.It is not hard to imagine why this connection exists.
People who become addicted to drugs often see no way out and become desperate. Similarly, people who are suicidal may use substances to self-medicate or even to commit the act and intentionally overdose.
Other evidence also makes this connection obvious. When we examine alcohol, we find that 22% of deaths by suicide in the U.S.
