Individuals who Smoke Cigarettes are More Likely to Commit Suicide: Study

Suicidal tendencies are common among people who regularly smoke cigarettes, finds a study.

Depression and mental distress induce people to seek comfort from drugs, sex, alcohol and cigarettes. A study by the Rutgers School of Public Health also suggests women turn to smoking cigarettes and tobacco products to combat anxiety and psychological disturbances. Recently, experts at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis found suicide rates and self-destructive behaviors were vastly prevalent among heavy smokers. They hold introducing stricter rules like ban on cigarette smoking in public places and imposing heavy tax burden on tobacco products to help cut suicide rates by 15 percent.

Their study examined state-wise records on tax rates, tobacco-control policies and suicide rates between 1994 and 2004. They observed the tax rates on tobacco products were relatively lower and anti-smoking law lenient in many states. The overall suicide rates in these states shot up six percent during the entire trial period accounting for over 14 deaths for every 100,000 people.

In addition, the experts wanted to know if implementing anti-smoking policies had any effect in decreasing death rates in many states across the U.S. Their findings revealed a direct association between rise in the number of suicide deaths and easy-going state policies on tobacco and smoking.

"Our analysis showed that each dollar increase in cigarette taxes was associated with a 10 percent decrease in suicide risk. Indoor smoking bans also were associated with risk reductions," said Richard A. Grucza, study author and associate professor of psychiatry at the Washington University, in a news release.

The authors are unsure about what triggers suicidal ideation and behavior among smokers. However, they believe nicotine, a compound in cigarettes, initially prompts a feel good phase that transcends to depression, anxiety and helplessness. These mental disturbances may push smokers to commit suicide.

"If you're not a smoker, or not likely ever to become a smoker, then your suicide risk shouldn't be influenced by tobacco policies. So the fact that we saw this influence among people who likely were smokers provides additional support for our idea that smoking itself is linked to suicide, rather than some other factor related to policy," added  Grucza.

More information is available online in the journal of Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

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