This short report uses data on drug-related emergency department (ED) visits from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) to examine the trends and characteristics of ED visits involving drug-related suicide attempts among ED patients aged 45-64 in 2011. The report discusses the patterns for male and female patients, the drugs most frequently involved in the suicide attempt-related ED visits, and the outcome of the visits. Findings from 2011 are compared with 2005 data. The report notes that current suicide prevention public health efforts are directed at primarily young people and the elderly, but that the findings of this analysis--the increase in drug-related suicide attempts among adults ages 45-64--underscore the importance of understanding risk factors and developing appropriate prevention strategies for this age group.

This Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) spotlight is about emergency department visits by status of follow-up care for drug-related suicide attempts involving antidepressants among adolescents aged 12 to 17 from 2008 to 2010.

This report describes emergency department (ED) visits involving drug-related suicide attempts using data from the 2011 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). The ED visits for suicide attempts by middle-aged adults were more likely to involve alcohol combined with other drugs compared with other drug-related visits.

Excel file with national estimates, rates, relative standard errors, trends and confidence intervals for all drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts, covering 2004-2011. Drug-related suicide attempts include visits for drug overdoses and for suicide attempts by other means (e.g., using a firearm) if drugs were involved or related to the suicide attempt.

Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN): Drug-Related ED Visits Involving Suicide Attempts Short Report presents (1) national estimates and characteristics of drug-related ED visits involving suicide attempts and (2) the top substance involved in suicide attempts.

Excel file with estimates, rates, relative standard errors, trends and confidence intervals for all drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts in the Denver metropolitan area, covering 2004-2011. Drug-related suicide attempts include visits for drug overdoses and for suicide attempts by other means (e.g., using a firearm) if drugs were involved or related to the suicide attempt.

Excel file with estimates, rates, relative standard errors, trends and confidence intervals for all drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, covering 2004-2011. Drug-related suicide attempts include visits for drug overdoses and for suicide attempts by other means (e.g., using a firearm) if drugs were involved or related to the suicide attempt.

Excel file with estimates, rates, relative standard errors, trends and confidence intervals for all drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts in the Phoenix metropolitan area, covering 2004-2011. Drug-related suicide attempts include visits for drug overdoses and for suicide attempts by other means (e.g., using a firearm) if drugs were involved or related to the suicide attempt.

Excel file with estimates, rates, relative standard errors, trends and confidence intervals for all drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts in the Chicago metropolitan area, covering 2004-2011. Drug-related suicide attempts include visits for drug overdoses and for suicide attempts by other means (e.g., using a firearm) if drugs were involved or related to the suicide attempt.

Excel file with estimates, rates, relative standard errors, trends and confidence intervals for all drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts in the Dade division of the Miami metropolitan area, covering 2004-2011. Drug-related suicide attempts include visits for drug overdoses and for suicide attempts by other means (e.g., using a firearm) if drugs were involved or related to the suicide attempt.