Cocaine-Related Suicide Attempts in Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
Toxicological Profile and Temporal Analyses
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21645857 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bruno Pereira dos Santos (0000-0002-7624-5966, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), corresponding author), Viviane Cristina Sebben (0000-0001-9388-4105, Toxicological Information Center of Rio Grande do Sul (CIT-RS)), Marcelo Dutra Arbo (0000-0002-0434-1553, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-7 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-11 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Substance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10826084.2026.2670601 |
| PMID | 42116663 |
| OpenAlex | W7160891801 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
BACKGROUND: Poisoning is a common method for suicide or suicide attempts. In this context, drug use, including cocaine, is described as a risk factor. Therefore, the use of cocaine in suicide attempts by self-poisoning should be investigated. METHODS: Data from poisoning cases registered by a Brazilian Poison Center between 2005 and 2024 were collected. Only suicide attempt cases involving cocaine as a toxic agent were selected. Demographic and toxicological variables were analyzed. Temporal analysis was carried out to verify changes along the analyzed period. RESULTS: A total of 1,089 cases of cocaine-related suicide attempts were registered. Approximately 64.1% were males, and young adults (20-39 years old) were the most prevalent age group (73.7%). An ARIMA model indicated that the number of observed cases from 2020 onwards was higher than expected, considering data up to 2019. An increase of 1,833% in cocaine-related suicide attempts over a 20-year period was assessed. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a marked rise in cocaine-related suicide attempts in recent years, with a clear shift during the COVID-19 pandemic. The predominant profile is men aged 20-39 years
Injury prevention · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Suicide attempt · Suicide methods · Suicide prevention · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Poisoning and overdose treatments · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |