Alcohol Abuse and Suicide Attempts Among Youth - Correlation or Causation?

36 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2003 Last revised: 3 Nov 2022

See all articles by Pinka Chatterji

Pinka Chatterji

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); State University of New York (SUNY) - Department of Economics

Dhaval Dave

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - NY Office; Bentley University - Department of Economics

Robert Kaestner

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); University of Chicago - Harris School of Public Policy

Sara Markowitz

Emory University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: April 2003

Abstract

This study uses the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) to explore the causal relationship between alcohol abuse (binge drinking and clinically defined alcohol use disorders) and suicide attempts among youth. We use an empirical approach that allows one to assess the existence and strength of a causal relationship without relying on identifying assumptions. Our results suggest that a causal relationship between binge drinking and suicide attempts is very unlikely. The findings, however, support a causal relationship between clinically defined alcohol use disorders and suicide attempts among girls.

Suggested Citation

Chatterji, Pinka and Dave, Dhaval and Dave, Dhaval and Kaestner, Robert and Kaestner, Robert and Markowitz, Sara, Alcohol Abuse and Suicide Attempts Among Youth - Correlation or Causation? (April 2003). NBER Working Paper No. w9638, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=398542

Pinka Chatterji (Contact Author)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

State University of New York (SUNY) - Department of Economics ( email )

Dhaval Dave

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - NY Office

365 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10016-4309
United States

Bentley University - Department of Economics ( email )

175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452-4705
United States

Robert Kaestner

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

5 Hanover Square 16th floor
New York, NY 10004
United States

University of Chicago - Harris School of Public Policy ( email )

1307 E. 60th Street
Room 3057
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

Sara Markowitz

Emory University ( email )

Atlanta, GA 30322
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

365 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10016-4309
United States
(212) 817-7968 (Phone)

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