Study highlights link between overdosing and suicide

Overdosing on drugs as a means of adolescent self-harm is a strong predictor of suicide, and understanding the probable triggers can help with prevention strategies.

That is according to a study which aims to highlight a pattern of probable triggers and underlying circumstances that may increase the risk of self-harm.

The authors of ‘Presentations and preceding factors of drug overdose amongst adolescents admitted to a large regional hospital’ said targeted secondary prevention measures are needed in the aftercare management of self-harm as “completed suicide and deliberate self-harm show considerable overlap”.