PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Suspected Suicide Attempt and Intentional Misuse Cases Age 50+ Involving Amphetamine or Methylphenidate and Medical Outcomes: Associations with Co-used Other Substances
Choi, N.G.; Choi, B.Y.; Baker, S.D. Suspected Suicide Attempt and Intentional Misuse Cases Aged 50+ Involving Amphetamine or Methylphenidate and Medical Outcomes: Associations with Co-Used Other Substances. Pharmacoepidemiology2023, 2, 236-248.
Choi, N.G.; Choi, B.Y.; Baker, S.D. Suspected Suicide Attempt and Intentional Misuse Cases Aged 50+ Involving Amphetamine or Methylphenidate and Medical Outcomes: Associations with Co-Used Other Substances. Pharmacoepidemiology 2023, 2, 236-248.
Choi, N.G.; Choi, B.Y.; Baker, S.D. Suspected Suicide Attempt and Intentional Misuse Cases Aged 50+ Involving Amphetamine or Methylphenidate and Medical Outcomes: Associations with Co-Used Other Substances. Pharmacoepidemiology2023, 2, 236-248.
Choi, N.G.; Choi, B.Y.; Baker, S.D. Suspected Suicide Attempt and Intentional Misuse Cases Aged 50+ Involving Amphetamine or Methylphenidate and Medical Outcomes: Associations with Co-Used Other Substances. Pharmacoepidemiology 2023, 2, 236-248.
Abstract
Introduction:Given increasingadult use of amphetamine and methylphenidate and their high misuse potential, we examined suspected suicide attempts and other intentional misuse and medical outcomes and their associations with co-used other substances among amphetamine and methylphenidate exposure cases age 50+.Methods: Usingthe 2015-2021 U.S. National Poison Data System (N=7,701 amphetamine and/or methylphenidate cases), we fit two generalized linear models for a Poisson distribution with log link function, with suspected suicide attempt versus intentional misuse and major medical effect/death versus other outcomes as the dependent variables. Results: Of all amphetamine/methylphenidate exposure cases, suspected suicide attempts and intentional misuse were 28.4% and 13.2%, respectively. Benzodiazepine use was associated with a higher likelihood but any illicit drug use was associated with a lower likelihood of suspected suicide attempts compared to intentional misuse. Type of stimulant involved (amphetamine or methylphenidate) was not significant. Co-use of antidepressants (IRR=1.43, 95% CI=1.16-1.76), prescription opioids (IRR=1.48, 95% CI=1.21-1.81), drugs for cardiovascular disease (IRR=1.51 95% CI=1.20-1.90), antipsychotics (IRR=1.26, 95% CI=1.02-1.55), or illicit drugs (IRR=2.40, 95% CI=1.82-3.15) was associated with a higher likelihood of major effect/death.Conclusions: Suspected suicide attempts or intentional misuse accounted for more than 40% of amphetamine or methylphenidate exposure cases age 50+. The higher likelihood of major effect/death in cases involving antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cardiovascular disease drugs also suggests confounding effects of comorbid mental and physical health problems. Careful monitoring of those who were prescribed amphetamine or methylphenidate and use other substances are needed.
Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
