Access to drugs frequently utilized in anesthesia can increase the likelihood of their misuse and potential use in suicides. Studies have robustly demonstrated that anesthesia providers, who misuse narcotics and prescription medications, face mortality rates from drug-related causes and suicides significantly higher—more than double—than those observed in healthcare professionals from other specialties. Alcohol emerges as the most commonly abused substance among non-anesthetic psychoactive drugs, while opioids top the list of abused anesthetics.
Research from Japan highlights that 80% of suicides among Japanese anesthetists are due to poisoning, a method representing only 5% of suicide cases in the broader population. These findings align with the research by Alexander et al., showing a high relative risk for drug-related suicide among anesthesiologists. Furthermore, studies reveal that anaesthetic agents are responsible for half of all suicide deaths within the field of Anesthesia. Dutheil et al.'s research, including twelve case reports of suicide or attempted suicide by fourteen anesthesia providers, underscores the prevalent misuse of intravenous drugs typically (or exclusively) found in anesthesia. The most frequently cited drugs in these cases include neuromuscular blocking agents and induction agents. Additionally, autopsy data from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have underscored propofol's significant involvement in suspected suicide cases among anesthesia personnel.
| Observation | Reported finding |
|---|---|
| Mortality among providers misusing narcotics and prescription medications | Drug-related and suicide mortality more than double that of healthcare professionals in other specialties |
| Most commonly abused non-anesthetic psychoactive substance | Alcohol |
| Most commonly abused anesthetic | Opioids |
| Method of suicide among Japanese anesthetists | Poisoning in 80% of cases, versus 5% of suicides in the broader population |
| Share of suicide deaths within anesthesia involving anesthetic agents | Half |
| Drugs most frequently cited in one series of twelve case reports (fourteen providers) | Neuromuscular blocking agents and induction agents |
| Agent highlighted by autopsy data from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland | Propofol, in suspected suicide cases among anesthesia personnel |
