Current Prescription Opioid Misuse and Suicide Risk Behaviors Among High School Students
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In previous studies, researchers have reported that youth with a lifetime history of prescription opioid misuse (POM) are at an increased risk for suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts. In this study, we investigate whether the association between youth POM and suicide outcomes differs by recency of POM (ie, none, past, or current misuse). METHODS: In this report, we use data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to examine associations between recency of POM (current POM, past POM, and no POM) and suicide risk behaviors among US high school students. RESULTS: After controlling for demographics, alcohol, and other drug use, both current POM and past POM were significantly associated with all suicide risk behaviors compared with no POM. Students who reported current POM had the highest adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for suicidal ideation (aPR: 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.97–2.69), planning (aPR: 2.33; 95% CI 1.99–2.79), attempts (aPR: 3.21; 95% CI 2.56–4.02), and feeling sad or hopeless (aPR: 1.59; 95% CI 1.37–1.84). Students who reported current POM also were significantly more likely than youth who reported past POM to report that they had seriously considered attempting suicide, made a suicide plan, and attempted suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Although POM, particularly current POM, is associated with increases in the risk for suicide-related behaviors and experiences of youth, comprehensive prevention approaches that address the intersections between suicide and POM provide a promising path forward for addressing these public health challenges among youth.
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Opioid misuse increases risk of suicidal risk behaviors, ideation, and attempts in adolescents.
“Opioid misuse, which is reported in as many as 13% of high school students, increases the risk of suicidal risk behaviors, ideation, and attempts in adolescents [21, 22].”
From Adolescent Suicide—Understanding Unique Risks and Opportunities for Trauma Centers to Recognize, Intervene, and Prevent a Leading Cause of Death (2022) · cites this paper as [21]
The Results report that prescription opioid misuse among high school students was associated with suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts. However, the Discussion explicitly says the cross-sectional data cannot establish causation or the direction of the association, so the claim that misuse “increases” risk overstates the finding. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredOpioid misuse is reported in as many as 13% of high school students.
“Opioid misuse, which is reported in as many as 13% of high school students, increases the risk of suicidal risk behaviors, ideation, and attempts in adolescents [21, 22].”
From Adolescent Suicide—Understanding Unique Risks and Opportunities for Trauma Centers to Recognize, Intervene, and Prevent a Leading Cause of Death (2022) · cites this paper as [21]
The Results (page not provided) report prescription opioid misuse among high school students, but not a 13% overall prevalence: 7.4% reported past misuse and 7.2% reported current misuse. A subgroup estimate for past misuse was 12.5%, close to 13%, but the claim does not identify that subgroup or distinguish past from current misuse. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredOpioid misuse increases risk of suicide behaviors and attempts, placing trauma patients at additional risk.
“Further research as aforementioned has highlighted the increased risk of suicide behaviors and attempts with opioid misuse, placing traumatically increased trauma patients at additional risk.”
From Adolescent Suicide—Understanding Unique Risks and Opportunities for Trauma Centers to Recognize, Intervene, and Prevent a Leading Cause of Death (2022) · cites this paper as [21]
The Discussion says high school students reporting prescription opioid misuse were at elevated risk for suicide-related behaviors, including attempts. It also says the cross-sectional findings cannot establish causation. The paper does not study trauma patients, so it does not support extending that finding to them. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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References 16 · Cited by 20
- Authors
- Wilkins, N. J., Clayton, H., Jones, C. M., & Brown, M.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Divisions of Violence Prevention and
- Injury Prevention, and
- Venue
- Pediatrics
- Publisher
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Published
- 2021-04-01
- Volume
- 147
- Issue
- 4
- ISSN
- 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-4275
- PMC
- PMC8555741
- OpenAlex
- W3134450481
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 3.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (CC999999)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- prescription opioid misuse, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, suicide attempts, high school students, youth, suicide prevention
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Opioid-Related Disorders, Risk-Taking, Suicide, Attempted, United States, Racial Groups, Suicidal Ideation
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