People With Both Cannabis and Alcohol Problems Had the Highest Rates of Suicidal Thinking During the Pandemic
In a Saskatchewan survey during COVID-19, suicidal ideation was most common among those with both problematic cannabis and alcohol use (25.8%), and younger adults (16-34) were most likely to experience all three problems together.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Suicidal ideation prevalence was highest among dual substance users (25.8%) compared to alcohol-only (23.2%) or cannabis-only (18.7%) problematic use. Younger age (16-34), changes in other substance use, pre-existing mental health diagnoses, and low resilience were independent predictors. LGBTQIA2S+ identity and pandemic stress predicted problematic cannabis use specifically.
Key Numbers
666 respondents; 25.8% suicidal ideation among dual cannabis/alcohol problem users; 23.2% alcohol-only; 18.7% cannabis-only; 16-34 year-olds most likely to experience all three; LGBTQIA2S+ identity associated with problematic cannabis use
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of 666 Saskatchewan residents aged 16+ from March 2022 data collection by MHCC-CCSA. Trivariate probit regression modeled the joint occurrence of suicidal ideation, problematic alcohol use, and problematic cannabis use simultaneously.
Why This Research Matters
The pandemic highlighted the intersection of mental health and substance use crises. Understanding that these problems cluster together, especially in younger people and those with pre-existing conditions, can guide targeted intervention during future public health emergencies.
The Bigger Picture
This study reinforces that suicidal ideation, alcohol problems, and cannabis problems frequently co-occur and share risk factors. Treating them as separate issues may miss the interconnected nature of these crises, especially during periods of societal stress.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design during a pandemic may not reflect typical patterns. Self-reported measures may underestimate substance problems and suicidality. Single Canadian province limits generalizability. Cannot establish causal relationships between variables.
Questions This Raises
- ?Did the pandemic create new co-occurrence patterns or amplify existing ones?
- ?Would integrated substance use and mental health interventions reduce all three outcomes?
- ?How do these patterns compare post-pandemic?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 25.8% suicidal ideation in dual users
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderately sized survey with sophisticated joint modeling, but cross-sectional pandemic data limits generalizability
- Study Age:
- 2023 study
- Original Title:
- Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation, cannabis, and alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan: findings from a joint-effect modeling.
- Published In:
- BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 571 (2023)
- Authors:
- Adeyinka, Daniel A, Novik, Nuelle, Novotna, Gabriela, Bartram, Mary, Gabrys, Robert, Muhajarine, Nazeem
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04347
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does using cannabis and alcohol together increase suicide risk?
This study found the highest rates of suicidal thinking (25.8%) among people with both cannabis and alcohol problems. However, it cannot prove the substances caused the suicidal ideation, as underlying factors like mental health conditions likely contribute to both.
Who was most at risk during the pandemic?
Younger adults (16-34), people with pre-existing mental health diagnoses, those with low resilience, and individuals who changed their substance use patterns during the pandemic were most likely to experience suicidal ideation alongside substance problems.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04347APA
Adeyinka, Daniel A; Novik, Nuelle; Novotna, Gabriela; Bartram, Mary; Gabrys, Robert; Muhajarine, Nazeem. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation, cannabis, and alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan: findings from a joint-effect modeling.. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 571. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05051-w
MLA
Adeyinka, Daniel A, et al. "Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation, cannabis, and alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan: findings from a joint-effect modeling.." BMC psychiatry, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05051-w
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation, ca..." RTHC-04347. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/adeyinka-2023-prevalence-and-factors-associated
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.