Substance use is one of the top risk factors for suicide in teens. Teens may also turn to substances as a way to cope with profound mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and trauma—all of which further increase the risk of suicidal ideation and related behaviors.
When teens turn to substance use as a coping mechanism, it creates a painful cycle between addiction and suicidal thoughts that may be difficult to break. This co-occurrence of conditions—known clinically as comorbidity or dual-diagnosis—benefits from integrated treatment that compassionately approaches them together rather than in isolation.
The Link Between Substance Use and Suicidal Ideation
According to toxicology tests, 75% of suicides involve one or more substances. Substance use can fuel suicidal ideation, and it can also worsen underlying mental health conditions. As these types of distress increase, teens can fall into patterns of hopelessness and despair. Each challenge can compound the other, intensifying suicidal thoughts and prompting further substance use.
Many drugs also disrupt cognitive functions that are still vulnerable in the teen years, including decision-making and reward systems. As teens use substances, these vital brain functions deteriorate or are interrupted. Over time, teens may find it more difficult to feel emotionally connected and satiated—a struggle that can lead to suicidal ideation.
Additionally, the sedative effect of alcohol and other drugs can cloud thoughts and reduce inhibitions. When teens experience suicidal thoughts under these circumstances, they may find it especially difficult to process or safely deal with them. This can lead the thoughts to intensify, pushing thoughts toward action, and putting teens at a higher risk for suicide attempts.
Alcohol and Suicidal Thoughts
Alcohol use doesn’t have to be frequent or chronic to contribute to suicidal ideation. Research indicates that even acute alcohol use may increase suicidal thoughts. However, greater frequency can intensify the relationship.
In adolescents, early use presents as a risk factor. One study found that those who started drinking before the age of 13 were at an increased risk for alcohol-related suicidal ideation. As alcohol consumption increases, teens are likely to isolate socially. Without strong social connections, suicidal thoughts can become more prominent or intense. This underscores the importance of early intervention.
Opioids and Suicidal Thoughts
Like alcohol, opioids can provide a temporary sense of calm or confidence, but that sedative state can leave a teen vulnerable to suicidal thoughts. Those who use opioids for non-medical reasons are more at risk for suicidal thoughts than those who use them for medical reasons only. When a teen seeks emotional relief from opioids, this puts them in that at-risk category.
Benzodiazepines and Suicidal Thoughts
Increased suicidal ideation can be a side effect of benzodiazepines. Because of this, suicidal ideation and suicide risk screenings are a standard part of prescribing benzos like Xanax and Klonopin. When teens take these drugs outside of their prescribed use, those clinical protections are not in place. Teens who experience suicidal thoughts under these circumstances have fewer alternative emotional regulation tools and supports, which can fuel a cycle of risky behaviors and worsening suicidal thoughts.
Cannabis and Suicidal Thoughts
Cannabis use is linked to higher rates of suicidal thoughts, particularly with regular use. It has also been linked to the onset of depression, psychosis, and mood disorders. Teens with these conditions are more likely than their peers to engage in substance use, creating an environment where mental health challenges and suicidal ideation can cause further distress. This highlights the need for comprehensive support.
How Suicidal Ideation Fuels Substance Use
The path from suicidal ideation to substance use and addiction is not understood well by clinicians and researchers. Research does make it clear that mental health challenges and distress—which connect to suicidal thoughts—fuel substance use.
Additionally, suicidal ideation is scary for many teens, particularly when it progresses from passive to active thought and they might try to mask that fear with alcohol or other substances. This can create a vicious cycle in which a teen has suicidal thoughts, uses substances to alleviate symptoms, and spirals into more overwhelming suicidal ideation.
The Importance of Integrated Treatment for Teens with Co-Occurring Disorders
Treating substance use and suicidal ideation together is crucial for lasting recovery.
If only one issue is addressed, teens are left vulnerable to relapse or further deterioration. That’s because physical withdrawal symptoms and shifting emotional states make teens vulnerable during substance use treatment.
Without an integrated model, like that employed at Muir Wood, substance use treatment doesn’t fully address the underlying reasons teens turn to substances for relief. By using an informed approach that proactively looks at underlying mental health conditions, we can provide teens with a treatment plan that gives them healthy tools for dealing with suicidal ideation.
Suicidal ideation screening is one tool clinicians use in a dual-diagnosis approach. These scales help a treatment team look at the teen’s suicidal thoughts over time and at various points in the recovery process. They can detect shifts in a teen’s emotional state early and tailor treatment approaches to their current needs.
Muir Wood’s Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Approach
A comprehensive treatment plan looks at a teen’s history of substance use, addiction, and suicidal ideation and includes:
Initial Evaluation: When a teen enters our treatment program, we evaluate their overall physical and mental health. This allows clinicians to diagnose underlying mental health conditions, screen for suicidal ideation, and begin to treat physical symptoms of drug use.
Personalized Treatment Plans: The relationship between substance use and suicidal ideation presents uniquely in each teen. A personalized treatment plan includes substance-specific interventions. It also gives teens access to a variety of emotional regulation skills to fit their needs.
Family Participation: Strong social support is a protective factor against suicide. For teens experiencing suicidal ideation, family participation in their treatment plan gives them access to meaningful relationships. This involvement grants the families empathy, insights, and supportive recovery tools.
Ongoing Support: Teen treatment plans aren’t static. As needs change, clinicians can identify shifts through tools like suicidal ideation scales and adjust treatment modalities accordingly. Teens are also introduced to support that they can carry after treatment ends, such as Alumni Client Support Groups, Youth 12-Step programs, and safety plans.
Begin the Healing Process Today
The connection between addiction and suicidal ideation necessitates an integrated treatment approach for long-lasting recovery. Our dual-diagnosis treatment programs for teen boys and teen girls integrate modalities for substance use and suicidal ideation. Contact us today to learn more about our integrated treatment plans.