Psychological Autopsy of Drug-Related Suicide Deaths: A Five-Year Retrospective Study from Türkiye

Dogan M., Senturk Bayram Kaya B., Gokcay H., BOYLU M. E., TAŞDEMİR İ., UZUN İ.

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)

Özet

This retrospective study examined 267 drug-ingestion suicides autopsied in T & uuml;rkiye (2018-2022). The mean age was 40 years; 51.7% were male. Metabolic/cardiovascular (28.1%) and psychotropic (22.8%) drugs were most used; oral ingestion predominated (93.6%). Relationship, financial, and health problems were leading motives. Males more often used psychotropics, while interpersonal conflicts were frequent among females. High rates of single (40.4%) and unemployed (20.2%) individuals suggest social and economic vulnerability. Findings highlight the need for improved mental health access, safer drug regulation, and sex-specific suicide prevention strategies.