Non-systematic use of narcotic substances: its influence on the suicidological characteristics of young males

The fact of drug use is associated with adverse consequences, including auto-aggressive and suicidal behavior. Many works describe cases of parasuicides and suicides while intoxicated. The connection in such cases was assessed from the point of view of formed drug addiction. Recently, there has been brough up a need to clinically differentiate drug abuse and drug addiction. It arises a question: is it worth considering non-systematic drug use as a significant indicator for suicidologists? Aim of the study is to identify the possible influence of episodic drug use on the suicidological characteristics of young men. Materials and methods: 133 male students aged 18 to 22 were examined. The criterion for inclusion in the study group is a registered unsystematic use of drugs of various chemical groups in the anamnesis; in the control, it is respectively the fact of no use. The exclusion criterion is the signs of formed drug addiction. In 34.6% of observations (n=46), the fact of unsystematic drug use was revealed among boys. The control group consisted of 87 boys. A questionnaire was used as a diagnostic tool to identify auto-aggressive patterns and their predictors in the past and present. Mathematical data processing was performed using the SPSS-Statistics software. Results: A history of suicide attempts was more common in the group of young men with experience of non-systematic drug use (10.87% versus 2.29%). Suicidal thoughts were reported by 17.39% of the study group respondents, while in the control group the rate only reached 3.44% (the difference is more than 5 times). These data reflect the relationship between prenosological drug use and suicidal autoaggression in the group of young men. It can be assumed that even unsystematic consumption of psychoactive substances can be considered as a risk factor for suicidal behavior. Young men with experience of unsystematic drug use were more prone to unjustified risk (32.61% versus 14.94% in the control group), which is combined with their life-threatening hobbies (45.65%). 71.73% of the respondents in the study group noted their ability to easily violate the generally accepted principles of morality and ethics. Periods of low mood (43.48%) and feelings of their own guilt (34.78%) were significantly more frequent in the study group. Conclusions: The unsystematic use of narcotic substances by young men probably significantly increases the risk of auto-aggressive behavior, including suicidal behavior. The connection between prenosological forms of psychoactive substance consumption and autoaggressive behavior is important for the construction of preventive schemes in relation to the affected contingent, as well as for the creation of effective screening complexes for assessing the risk of suicidal behavior.