Suicide-Related Mortality Among Individuals with Mental and Behavioral Disorders Due to Psychoactive Substance Use: A 25-Year U.S. Nationwide Analysis (1999-2023).

Objective

Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use, as defined by ICD-10 codes F10-F19, include a spectrum of substance use disorders such as acute intoxication, withdrawal, harmful use, and dependence related to alcohol, opioids, stimulants, cannabis, tobacco, and other substances. These conditions significantly increase the risk of suicide, yet national trends in suicide-related mortality among affected individuals remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate national trends in suicide and self-harm mortality among individuals with these disorders from 1999 to 2023.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of U.S. death certificate data from the CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database (1999-2023). Decedents with mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use were identified using ICD-10 codes F10-F19, encompassing acute intoxication, withdrawal, harmful use, and dependence. Suicide and self-harm deaths were defined by ICD-10 codes U03, X60-X84, and Y87. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per million and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were estimated using Joinpoint regression. Analyses were stratified by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and metropolitan status.

Results

Between 1999 and 2023, 37,473 suicide-related deaths were identified among U.S. individuals with mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use. AAMRs increased from 2.2 to 5.7 per million (AAPC: 3.31; p < .01). Males had higher mortality than females (6.6 vs. 2.9), though females had a steeper rate of increase over time. Middle-aged adults had the highest AAMR (8.2), followed by younger (6.9), older adults (3.4) and children and adolescents (1.1). Non-Hispanic (NH) American Indian/Alaska Native individuals (AI/AN) had the highest AAMR (13.5), followed by NH White (6.2), Hispanic/Latino (1.6), NH Black (1.6), and NH Asian/Pacific Islander (API) (1.4). From 1999 to 2000, non-metropolitan areas had higher AAMRs than metropolitan areas (6.5 vs. 4.3), with significant increases in both settings.

Conclusions

Suicide-related mortality among individuals with mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use has increased significantly increased in the United States from 1999 to 2023, demonstrating substantial disparities by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and geographic region. These findings highlight the critical need for integrated approaches in suicide prevention and substance-related treatment settings.