Drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts have increased in recent years. From 2005 to 2011, there was a 51 percent increase for these types of visits among individuals aged 12 or older (from 151,477 to 228,277 visits). Specifically, such ED visits involving patients aged 18 to 29 increased 58 percent from 2005 to 2011 (from 47,512 to 75,068 visits). For patients aged 45 to 64, such ED visits increased 104 percent during this period (from 28,802 in 2005 to 58,775 in 2011). In 2011, 18 to 29 year olds and 45 to 64 year olds comprised approximately 60 percent of all drug-related ED visits involving suicide attempts. Despite the apparent increases in such visits among other age groups, these increases were not statistically significant.
Suicide prevention information resources are available from SAMHSA's Suicide Prevention Resource Center at http://www.sprc.org. Crisis counseling is always available through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK(8255). To learn more about suicide and suicide prevention, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/index.html.
Age Group | 2005 | 2011 |
---|---|---|
Aged 12 to 17 | 17,869 | 23,005 |
Aged 18 to 29* | 47,512 | 75,068 |
Aged 30 to 44 | 53,213 | 66,470 |
Aged 45 to 64* | 28,802 | 58,775 |
Aged 64 or Older | 4,079 | 4,953 |
* Difference between 2005 and 2011 is statistically significant at the .05 level. |