Department of Social Work, University of Wisconsin Madison, USA.
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 25(03), 1130-1147
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2025.25.3.0854
Received on 08 February 2025; revised on 15 March 2025; accepted on 17 March 2025
Drug-related suicide remains a significant public health crisis, exacerbated by substance use disorders, mental health comorbidities, and systemic gaps in intervention strategies. This study evaluates the efficacy of harm reduction approaches, psychosocial interventions, and policy reforms in mitigating drug-related suicide cases. A comprehensive analysis is conducted to assess how harm reduction strategies, such as supervised consumption sites, opioid substitution therapy, and naloxone distribution, contribute to reducing overdose-related suicide attempts and fatalities. Additionally, the role of psychosocial interventions—including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management, and peer support programs—is explored to determine their impact on suicide prevention among high-risk individuals. Furthermore, this research examines policy reforms aimed at addressing structural determinants of drug-related suicides. Decriminalization policies, improved access to mental health services, and integrated care models are analyzed to identify their effectiveness in reducing suicide rates among drug users. By reviewing empirical evidence from global case studies, the study highlights best practices and identifies gaps in current intervention frameworks. The findings underscore the necessity of a multi-faceted approach that combines harm reduction, evidence-based psychosocial therapies, and comprehensive policy reforms to create sustainable and effective suicide prevention strategies. This research contributes to public health discourse by providing data-driven insights into the intersection of substance use and suicide prevention. The study advocates for integrated, stigma-free interventions that prioritize harm reduction while addressing mental health and socio-economic vulnerabilities.
Harm reduction; Drug-related suicide; Psychosocial interventions; Policy reforms; Mental health; Substance use disorders
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Seye Omiyefa. Evaluating the efficacy of harm reduction, psychosocial interventions and policy reforms in reducing drug-related suicide cases. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 25(03), 1130-1147. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2025.25.3.0854.
Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0