Acute alcohol intoxication and suicide mortality among racial/ethnic groups: Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System

Suicide is a major public health problem and alcohol is a common concomitant of suicide. According to the CDC, 6,969 deaths and 235,865 years of potential life lost resulted from alcohol-attributable suicides in 2001. Of note, ethnic/racial groups have disproportionately higher prevalence of alcohol use prior to suicide. Unfortunately, little is known about factors associated with alcohol-related suicides in these populations. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the epidemiology of alcohol intoxication among suicide decedents by race/ethnicity in 16 U.S. states. Suicide, demographic, and toxicology data were obtained from the combined 2003-09 National Violent Death Reporting System for White (n = 11,053), African American (n = 809), American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN; n = 301), and Hispanic (n = 722) decedents. Mean blood alcohol content (BAC) levels among White, African American, AI/AN, and Hispanic suicide decedents were, respectively, 0.14, 0.11, 0.16, and 0.14 g/dl. Rates of acute alcohol intoxication (BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dl) were highest for AI/AN (39%), followed by Hispanics (29%), Whites (22%), and African Americans (16%). Based on an ordinary least-squares regression analysis, factors associated (p < .05) with higher BAC levels among suicide decedents were: age (< 65 years), education (< 12 years), and suicide method (firearms) among Whites; marital status (married) and suicide method (firearms) among African Americans; age (30-44 years) among AI/ANs; age (30-49 years) and education (< 12 years) among Hispanics. These unique data provide guidance for clinicians and policy-makers seeking to develop personalized strategies that can reduce suicides associated with alcohol use in various racial/ethnic populations.