Wamba Z., Ferrari L.A., Nieto R.R., Arado M.G., Colangelo C., Nardo C., Sredcoff N., Stoichevich S.

Laboratory of Toxicology and Legal Chemistry, Buenos Aires Court of Justice. 41 y 119 (1900) La Plata, Argentina

In this study, we attempt to show the incidence of drugs of abuse and alcohol as a primary cause of voluntary suicide among people of the Buenos Aires Province, the most populated state of Argentina (almost 16 millon inhabitants).
Our results show that the first cause of suicide is gunshot, the second drug abuse associated with alcohol, and the third hanging.
From 443 cases of suicide analyzed, 44.69% were produced by gunshot, 19.19% by poisoning by drugs and alcohol ingestion, 18.51% by hanging, and 10.16% by a combination of gunshot or hanging in drugged people. Other causes, such as burning, car crashes, jumping from buildings, etc. accounted for 7.45%.
Focusing attention on cases of drug and alcohol ingestion as the primary cause of death, sex distribution showed that 31.58% were male and 68.42% were female victims, with a mean age of 52 years. Age range was 14 - 90 years old for males and 13 - 88 for females, average 38. In spite of this, most male cases were caused among 25 - 30 year olds and, of the female cases, among 15 - 23 year olds.
The principal compounds found in these cases were, in decreasing order, benzodiazepines, phenothiazine and analogous compounds, cannabis derivatives, amphetamines and related substances, barbiturates and cocaine. In most cases, these compounds were associated with large amounts of ingested ethanol.
A prevalence of suicide cases was noted during May and December, the least incidence being during winter.