Cannabis use predicted suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts in Latinx LGB teens
Among 451 Latinx LGB youth, cannabis use was a significant predictor across all three levels of suicidality: ideation (OR 1.76), planning (OR 2.46), and attempts (OR 3.12), with the strongest association for actual suicide attempts.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis use was a significant independent predictor of suicidal ideation (OR 1.76), suicide planning (OR 2.46), and suicide attempts (OR 3.12) among Latinx LGB adolescents, even after controlling for bullying, sexual assault, and depression. The association strengthened across the suicidality continuum from ideation to attempt.
Key Numbers
451 Latinx LGB youth. Suicidal ideation: 40%. Planning: 34%. Attempts: 21%. Cannabis use ORs: ideation 1.76, planning 2.46, attempts 3.12. Other predictors: bullying, sexual assault, depression.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of 451 self-identified Latinx LGB participants from the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavioral Survey. Backward elimination logistic regression examined predictors at each level of suicidality.
Why This Research Matters
Latinx LGB youth face intersecting risk factors for suicidality. Cannabis use emerged as one of the strongest independent predictors, particularly for suicide attempts, suggesting it should be considered in suicide risk assessment for this population.
The Bigger Picture
The gradient effect, where cannabis use showed progressively stronger associations from ideation to planning to attempts, suggests the relationship may be more than just shared risk factors. It raises questions about whether cannabis use specifically facilitates the progression from thinking about suicide to acting on it.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Self-reported data. Cannabis use frequency and amount not specified. Other substance use not fully controlled. The sample came from a school-based survey, excluding youth not in school.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis use facilitate progression from suicidal thoughts to actions?
- ?Would reducing cannabis use reduce suicide risk in this population?
- ?Are these findings specific to Latinx LGB youth or generalizable?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- OR 3.12 for suicide attempts
- Evidence Grade:
- Rated moderate because this uses nationally representative survey data, though the cross-sectional design and self-report measures limit causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019 using 2017 YRBSS data.
- Original Title:
- Suicide ideation, planning, and attempts: the case of the Latinx LGB youth.
- Published In:
- Health promotion perspectives, 9(3), 198-206 (2019)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01959
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis use linked to suicide risk in teens?
In this study of Latinx LGB youth, cannabis use was independently associated with suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts, with the association growing stronger at each stage of the suicidality continuum.
Does cannabis cause suicidal behavior?
This cross-sectional study cannot prove causation. Cannabis use may be a marker for distress rather than a direct cause, or it may worsen existing vulnerabilities. The gradient pattern warrants further investigation.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01959APA
Boyas, Javier F; Villarreal-Otálora, Tatiana; Alvarez-Hernandez, Luis R; Fatehi, Mariam. (2019). Suicide ideation, planning, and attempts: the case of the Latinx LGB youth.. Health promotion perspectives, 9(3), 198-206. https://doi.org/10.15171/hpp.2019.28
MLA
Boyas, Javier F, et al. "Suicide ideation, planning, and attempts: the case of the Latinx LGB youth.." Health promotion perspectives, 2019. https://doi.org/10.15171/hpp.2019.28
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Suicide ideation, planning, and attempts: the case of the La..." RTHC-01959. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/boyas-2019-suicide-ideation-planning-and
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.