Alcohol linked to many U.S. suicides

Alcohol may be involved in as many as one-third of U.S. suicides, federal researchers reported Thursday.

Test results from suicide victims in 13 states showed that 33.3% had alcohol in their blood, and 16.4% had opiates, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its weekly report on death and disease.

“These results underscore the need to continue monitoring toxicology test results of suicide victims, which might identify patterns of substance use that can help guide development of effective suicide interventions,” the report said.

Just as many suicide victims suspected of using drugs to kill themselves had alcohol or other drugs in their systems, compared with those who committed suicide by other means.