Abstract:
Opioid toxicity can result in life-threatening respiratory depression. Opioid-overdose mortality in the United States is high and increasing, but it is difficult to determine what proportion of those deaths might actually be suicides. The exact number of Americans who died of an opioid overdose but whose deaths might be classified as suicide remains unknown. It is important to differentiate between those who take opioids with the deliberate and unequivocal objective of committing suicide, that is, those with active intent, from those with passive intent. The passive-intent group understands the risks of opioid consumption and takes dangerous amounts, but with a more ambiguous attitude toward suicide. Thus, among decedents of opioid overdose, a large population dies by accident, whereas a small population dies intending to commit suicide; but between them exists a sub-population with equivocal intentions, waxing and waning between their desire to live and the carelessness about death. There may be a passive as well as active intent to commit suicide, but less is known about the passive motivation. It is important for public health efforts aimed at reducing both suicides and opioid-use disorder to better understand the range of motivations behind opioid-related suicides and how to combat them.
摘要:
阿片类药物毒性可导致危及生命的呼吸抑制。美国阿片类药物过量死亡率很高,而且还在增加,但是很难确定这些死亡中有多大比例可能是自杀。死于阿片类药物过量但死亡可能被归类为自杀的美国人的确切人数仍然未知。重要的是要区分那些服用阿片类药物的人,他们故意和明确的目的是自杀,也就是说,那些有积极意图的人,那些有被动意图的人。被动意图小组了解阿片类药物消费的风险,并采取危险的数量,但是对自杀的态度更加模棱两可。因此,在阿片类药物过量的死者中,大量人口意外死亡,而一小部分人死亡打算自杀;但他们之间存在一个意图模棱两可的亚群体,在他们对生活的渴望和对死亡的粗心之间起伏和消逝。可能有被动和主动自杀的意图,但对被动动机知之甚少。对于旨在减少自杀和阿片类药物使用障碍的公共卫生工作,重要的是更好地了解与阿片类药物相关的自杀背后的动机范围以及如何打击它们。