Sniff Check

Facts about TEEN SU***DE that parents need to know. We can help discourage drug use. Message us for details.

Stats and Trends

Around 10% of American kids hurt themselves intentionally at some point — doing everything from scratching their skin to burning themselves with fire — and su***de is the third-leading cause of death for kids aged 10–14 (and the second for young people aged 15–24).

Unfortunately, those aren’t typos. Children as young as 6 take part in self-harming behaviors in the United States. It happens in rich families and poor families alike, in every corner of the country. As kids develop relationships with drugs or alcohol, their chances of su***de increase.

It’s important to identify the signs of addiction and address the situation as early as you can. Allowing drug dependencies to continue increases the chances things can snowball into catastrophic mental illnesses. And they often coincide with suicidal thinking or behavior.

In the U.S.:

117 people die from su***de each day (42,773 total in 2014)

494,000 people visited the hospital for self-harm in 2014

Among youth, there are 25 su***de attempts for every completed attempt

50% of su***des involve fi****ms

While males represent nearly 78% of all successful su***des, females attempt su***de more often

In 2010:

33.4% of su***de decedents tested positive for alcohol

23.8% tested positive for antidepressants

20% tested positive for opiates, such as he**in and prescription painkillers

Among high school students in 2013:

17% seriously considered attempting su***de (22.4% of females and 11.6% of males)

13.6% made a plan for how they would attempt su***de

8% attempted su***de one or more times within the previous 12 months

2.7% suffered a serious injury, poisoning or overdose as a result of a su***de attempt

Hispanic students had a higher rate of suicidal thinking, planning and attempts than white and black students

American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents are even more at risk — the su***de rate among these teens is 1.5 times the national average

In regards to teen substance use:

Between 1.5 and 2 million teens in the U.S. meet the criteria for substance addiction

16–19 year-old females who abuse alcohol are 6 times as likely to be depressed

Teens with an alcohol dependence are at a greater risk for su***de

90% of teens who are suicidal have a substance use disorder (i.e. destructive psychological relationships with drugs or alcohol)

20% of non-traffic injury deaths involving alcohol intoxication are su***des

Teens using ma*****na on a daily basis are 7 times more likely to die from su***de

Whether or not teens are overtly suicidal, the disorienting effects of substance use can cause them to act out in potentially fatal ways. In 2014, a Colorado teen jumped 4 stories to his death after consuming an entire ma*****na-laced cookie or “edible” — more than 5 times the average dosage. His death was ruled an accident.

Ma*****na is used by 35% of U.S. 12th graders each year.

Risk Factors

We cannot predict when a child considers or attempts su***de. But as a parent, you can identify various risks, and attempt to intervene in their lives before they attempt any form of self-harm.

Risk factors for teen su***de, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include:

Previous su***de attempt(s)

Family history of su***de

Cultural and religious beliefs

Being mistreated by family

Impulsive or aggressive tendencies

Isolation or being cut off from others

Local epidemics of su***de

Personal loss (e.g. death in the family, a serious break-up)

Feelings of hopelessness

Physical illness

According to one major study, more than 90% of young people who die from su***de have been diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder. In cases of dual diagnosis — when a mental disorder co-occurs with an existing substance use disorder — the compounding effects can wreak havoc on a child.

Mental health disorders — including ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, as well as major depression — can lend to feelings of hopelessness and isolation.

Do you need to resolve to have a drug-free home or workplace? We can help!