Work

Neighborhood spikes in drug and alcohol overdoses and subsequent suicide: A serial cross-sectional study of California ZIP codes

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: The overdose crisis potentially increases risk factors for suicide while decreasing resources available to help those in need. This study sought to determine whether acute increases in drug or alcohol overdoses increase suicide rates. Methods: = 163,240). Overdose spikes were defined as ZIP-code-months with rates >2 standard deviations above expected. We used confounder-adjusted Bayesian Poisson space-time misalignment models to estimate whether overdose spikes, lagged 0-6 months, were associated with the rate of suicide (overall and by firearm involvement). Results: Overdose spikes were identified in 6728 (4.1%) ZIP-code-months. In unadjusted models, overdose spikes were associated with same-month increases in suicide (IRR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.14) and non-firearm suicide (IRR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.17). The latter association persisted in adjusted models (IRR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.15), which also showed reduced firearm suicide four months following a spike (IRR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.99). No other associations were significant. Conclusions: We did not find robust evidence of an association between spikes in ZIP-code-level overdoses and suicide. However, associations in unadjusted models point to a potential syndemic of overdose and suicide.

Source: Preventive Medicine Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103358

Authors: Veronica A. Pear, Sonia L. Robinson, Julia P. Schleimer, Garen J. Wintemute, Aimée Moulin

Institution: University of California, Davis

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610