Suicide is a very complicated and difficult subject to discuss. Despite it being one of the leading causes of death in the United States, it is still difficult to predict if someone is going to commit suicide or the various reasons why someone feels that a permanent solution to temporary problems is the course they should take. But when you combine addiction and suicide it becomes an even harder topic to discuss. Addiction is a major factor in a good portion of suicide deaths in America.
As mentioned, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among all Americans (10th), but it is an even greater cause of death among young people. It is the third leading cause of death in children from ages of 10 to 14 years old. However, from the ages of 15 to 35, suicide is the second leading cause of death. Being addicted to drugs and alcohol can have a major factor in suicide risk in this group. All told, almost 50,000 people, no matter what age, die from the willful taking of their own lives every year.
When one puts depression in the equation, the chances of suffering from a substance abuse disorder increases in chance greatly. Depression and substance abuse form a cycle that causes a person to spiral downward, increasingly using drugs or alcohol to dampen or deaden the pain one feels due to the depression or mental condition for which they are suffering. Eventually, the addict will feel like there truly is no way out and thus begins to think about the only true way out—suicide. The addict does not understand the phrase “a permanent solution to a temporary problem” because, at rock bottom, they do not believe it is a temporary problem. The addict or alcoholic believes that there is no way out of the vicious cycle of depression and drugs.
Suicide and addiction are not just closely linked merely because a person abuses drugs or alcohol. A person with a major depressive disorder who is also addicted to drugs will quite often suffer other maladies in their lives that increase and exacerbate the depression bring them closer and closer to the decision to take their lives. Often their families will be destroyed by the addiction. They will suffer financial problems due to careers being destroyed. Also, many times there are criminal proceedings that are related to the substance abuse problem which can turn someone’s life upside down. It is with this “perfect storm” of events and qualities that a person can believe that suicide is the answer.
However, a person can still be pulled from the literal edge if they are contemplating suicide. Even if they are so very far down that rabbit hole that they do not think there is any way out, there is still hope. When a professional addiction and mental health team is put into place, and the veil of being high or drunk is taken off, many addicts can truly understand that what they are experiencing is merely a temporary problem.
The supervised detoxification and residential treatment programs at Asana Recovery are offered in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. We’re deeply committed to ensuring your long-term recovery and guiding you on your path to a healthier and happier future. There is no better time than now, and we’re always available to speak with you. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
