SUICIDALITY IN A SAMPLE OF METHADONE-MAINTENANCE CLIENTS

Previous work has shown that suicide is a significant cause of death a mong substance abusers, including methadone-maintained clients, and th at the prediction of suicidal ideation and behavior is difficult. Prel iminary review of data collected at admission on a population of 438 m ethadone-maintained clients found 55 expressing some level of suicidal behaviors during the course of treatment. These clients were compared with a randomly selected comparison group of 55 nonsuicide clients ma tched for gender and race/ethnicity on measures of psychological dysfu nction, drug use, family dysfunction, and help-seeking behaviors. Resu lts showed that at time of admission suicidal clients reported: 1) mor e psychological dysfunction as evidenced by higher levels of depressio n, social dysfunction, hostility, risk-taking, and previous thoughts o f suicide; 2) less family support at the present time and during child hood; and 3) more help-seeking behavior as evidenced by self-referral, number of previous treatment episodes, attendance at self-help meetin gs, and higher scores on motivational measures of desire for help. Dif ferences in preadmission drug-using behaviors were not found between t he two groups.