The Influence of Substance Use on Engagement in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSI) in Adults.

Background

Adults engaging in non-suicidal self-injurious (NSI) behaviors often report the use of substances; however, little research explores the relationship between substance abuse and NSI. Thus, this study examined the influence of substance use on patterns of NSI among adults.

Objectives

This study seeks to answer the following questions: (a) Is AOD use predictive of more frequent self-injurious behaviors? and (b) Does the use of AODs predict injuring more severely than expected?

Methods

An observational cross-sectional design was used to examine the relationship between drug use and NSI behaviors. Participants were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk).

Results

Results indicated opiates, barbiturates and sedatives all had a small but statistically significant influence on the frequency of NSI behaviors, while marijuana, PCP and anti-anxiety medications had a small but statistically significant relationship to severity. Conclusion/

Importance

This study indicates that future research should take into account substance use patterns in adults engaging in NSI behaviors.