The Relationship Between Suicidal Thoughts and Psychoactive Substances

Abstract

In this study is represented the relationship between suicidal thoughts and psychoactive abuse. In study were involved 202 students of Banjaluka’s secondary schools. By questioner for risky behaviour of adolescents (1) was found 28,7% of them have suicidal thoughts, and 144 haven’t suicidal thoughts. Students from both groups use alcohol but there are not statistically significant differences among groups. The representative sample was 202 students from Banjaluka’s secondary schools. The results showed that 28,7% of them have suicidal ideas. From examined students 20,2% used cannabis, and 4% other psychoactive substances, 56,9% alcohol and 35,6% smoke cigarettes. In the group with suicidal ideas, use of psychoactive substances is 8,6%, alcohol use in 63,7% cases and cannabis 36,2%, and smoking cigarettes in 48,2% cases. We may conclude that misuse of psy-choactive substances is more present in group with suicidal ideas, except in case of alcohol, which was also high in group with suicidal ideas, but without statistical significances. It is also possible to conclude that there is important connection between use of psychoactive substances and presence of suicidal ideas as first step toward a suicide in adolescents.

Keywords

• suicidal thoughts
• psychoactive substances