Associations Between Substance Use Disorders and Suicidal Ideation: An Investigation of Latino Emerging Adults

Suicide is ranked as the second leading cause of death among emerging adults (aged 18–25 years). The purpose of this study was to test the associations between substance use disorders and suicidal ideation while controlling for religiosity and depression, among Latino emerging adults. Participants were 3,372 Latino, noninstitutionalized, U.S. residents aged 18- to 25-year-old who participated in the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Binomial logistic regression analyses tested the relationships between major depressive episodes (MDEs), substance abuse/dependence, and past-year suicidal ideation. Results showed that substance use disorders and MDEs were both associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation in emerging adult Latinos within the past year. Clinical and research implications as well as study limitations are discussed