Self-Medication for Opioid Use Is Associated with Suicidal Ideation Among People Who Inject Drugs

In a sample of people who inject drugs, intentional self-injury was associated with polydrug use, while unintentional overdose was associated primarily with crack cocaine use. Suicidal ideation, on the other hand, was associated with use of non-prescribed medications for opioid use disorder (methadone or suboxone), indicating attempted self-management of addiction.