Suicide among drug addicts in Norway.

The impact of drug addiction in suicide with respect to gender and trend changes in drug addiction was assessed from Norwegian data on 1608 drug addicts admitted to treatment over the past three decades. The mean annual mortality rate was 2.3%, and 14.7% of those who died committed suicide. The incidence density of suicide was significantly higher among drug addicts than in the total population, and the excess mortality by suicide was higher for women, higher in the youngest age group, and higher for those who died during the 1970s. No differences in suicide intensity were found between male and female drug addicts, whereas an effect of admission period on suicide intensity was found for women but not for men. Hence, among female drug addicts, those admitted to treatment in the 1970s and 1980s tended to take their own lives during a shorter observation period than those admitted during the 1960s. The degree to which the elevated risk of suicide among drug addicts varies with gender and period is discussed with reference to the impact of gender roles and varying features of drug addicts in Norway over time.