Effects of Drug Misuse Treatment on Symptoms of Depression and Suicide

Abstract

In this longitudinal study of 9,904 clients who were treated at methadone, outpatient drug-free (OPDF), and residential treatment facilities, at intake more than half of all clients reported symptoms of depression or suicide. Females and multiple nonnarcotics users were at highest risk for suicide attempts. Despite a dramatic drop in the level of symptomatology by 4 weeks in treatment, many clients remained suicidal throughout the study period. Suicidal tendencies at both intake and 4 weeks were strongly related to suicidal tendencies at 12 months post-treatment; even more strongly related was the return to weekly or more frequent use of narcotics or nonnarcotics for residential and OPDF clients.