Abstract
Background
There is evidence that both cocaine and alcohol lead to an increased risk of suicide. However, cocaethylene (a metabolite created from their co-ingestion) and suicidality are underexamined, and there has yet to be a systematic review of the evidence of any relationship between cocaethylene and suicidality. This research aimed to systematically examine whether cocaethylene formation from the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol is an independent risk factor for suicide.
Methods
Studies examining the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol and its association with suicide were included.
Results
A total of 7 papers were retained for the final review. The review highlights a significant gap in the current literature regarding cocaethylene’s role as an independent risk factor for suicide and self-harm behaviors. Although numerous studies have examined the individual effects of cocaine and alcohol on suicide risk, there remains a lack of focused research on the combined effects of these substances and the specific role of cocaethylene.
Conclusion
This review highlights a critical gap in the understanding of cocaethylene’s role in suicidality. Given the increasing prevalence of polydrug use, especially the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol, there is an urgent need for more comprehensive research into cocaethylene’s pharmacological and behavioral effects.
There is evidence that both cocaine and alcohol lead to an increased risk of suicide. However, cocaethylene (a metabolite created from their co-ingestion) and suicidality are underexamined, and there has yet to be a systematic review of the evidence of any relationship between cocaethylene and suicidality. This research aimed to systematically examine whether cocaethylene formation from the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol is an independent risk factor for suicide.
Methods
Studies examining the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol and its association with suicide were included.
Results
A total of 7 papers were retained for the final review. The review highlights a significant gap in the current literature regarding cocaethylene’s role as an independent risk factor for suicide and self-harm behaviors. Although numerous studies have examined the individual effects of cocaine and alcohol on suicide risk, there remains a lack of focused research on the combined effects of these substances and the specific role of cocaethylene.
Conclusion
This review highlights a critical gap in the understanding of cocaethylene’s role in suicidality. Given the increasing prevalence of polydrug use, especially the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol, there is an urgent need for more comprehensive research into cocaethylene’s pharmacological and behavioral effects.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Substance Use |
| Volume | 00 |
| Issue number | 00 |
| Early online date | 8 May 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 8 May 2025 |
Keywords
- Suicidality
- cocaethylene
- alcohol-use
- substance-use
- systematic review
- cocaine
