Alcohol-Induced Myopia

Rogers (1992) propose that attenuated perceptual and cognitive ability is associated with suicidal crises regardless of an alcohol influence. He attempts to develop a comprehensive conceptualization of the alcohol-suicide relationship based on the social cognitive mechanism of alcohol-induced myopia, the reduction of perception and ability to engage in inferential thought. Rogers (1992) posits that alcohol use may initially lead to a reduction in psychological distress due to its ability to cause biases in cognitive processing by narrowing the options available. When alcohol use continues, it may exacerbate depression and anxiety. Ultimately, alcohol use will lead to the extreme perceptual and cognitive biases that involved considering

(2014) propose the interactions effect of alcohol use, age, as well as race and ethnicity. Individuals in their earlier and middle adulthood are more likely to drink alcohol when completing firearm suicides or asphyxia suicides. Conversely, least alcohol consumption is associated with late adulthood (aged 75 years and older) and suicide by overdose. Alcohol use is more likely to be observed in White, especially when they completed suicide by hanging. On the other hand, Asians and Pacific Islanders who consumed alcohol before suicide act are more likely complete suicide by overdose. Alcohol is least likely to be present when Blacks committed suicide by hanging. Conner et al. (2014) conclude that their results are consistent with prior studies, which indicates acute drinking is strongly associated with violent methods of suicide such as firearm and hanging. They also suggest that hanging required preparation and coordination. Hence, a very high concentration of alcohol might increase the difficulty in completing suicide by hanging. On the other hand, suicide by overdosing, a nonviolent method, required greater time for alcohol metabolism.

The study conducted by Conner et al. (2014) sheds light on the association of acute alcohol use and suicide methods. However, about 28% of individuals in the study were not tested for alcohol. This might bias the results. In addition, Conner et al. (2014) did not consider whether there was a history of chronic alcohol use in these cases that might potentially influence alcohol use and the choice of suicide method. According to Kposowa and McElvain (2006), males with a history of substance abuse are more likely to complete suicide by overdose than males without such