ALCOHOL-ABUSE AND SUICIDE - A 40-YEAR PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF NORWEGIAN CONSCRIPTS

Suicide mortality among alcohol abusers and the prevalence of alcohol abusers among suicides were assessed in a 40-year follow-up study of 4 0 000 Norwegian military conscripts. Alcohol abuse was operationalized as either admission to alcohol treatment clinic, alcohol related caus e of death, or both. The relative risk of suicide among alcohol abuser s was estimated to 6.9. The relative risk of committing suicide among alcohol abusers appeared to be higher in middle age (more than 40 year s) than in younger age groups (RR = 12.8 and 4.5, respectavely). The l ife-time risk of suicide, i.e, before the age of 60 years, was estimat ed to 0.63% for those not categorized as alcohol abusers and 4.76% for those categorized as alcohol abusers.