A new report has highlighted a worrying increase in suicides caused by sodium nitrite poisoning in the US. The study, conducted by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) between 2018 and 2020 to explore the rise of this emerging method, which is particularly prevalent among younger individuals. The findings were published in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.
Sodium nitrite, a common food preservative, has long been known to pose a risk if ingested in high quantities. When consumed in large amounts, it interferes with the body’s ability to deliver oxygen, leading to death by hypoxia. In recent years, it has been increasingly misused as a method of suicide, with its ease of access online and its presence in suicide forums playing a crucial role in its rise.
The study revealed that 260 suicide deaths linked to sodium nitrite occurred across 37 states and Puerto Rico over the three-year period, with a significant 69% of these incidents taking place in 2020. The majority of the victims were young white males, with a known history of depression or suicidal ideation. Nearly a third of the victims were students, further pointing to the vulnerability of younger populations. The increase in sodium nitrite suicides coincided with an overall decrease in suicides by poisoning, indicating the unique rise of this particular method.
One of the key findings of the research was the role that online suicide forums have played in this disturbing trend. Many victims were found to have engaged in discussions on such forums, where sodium nitrite was discussed as a quick and painless method of suicide. In some cases, victims had received advice on where to purchase sodium nitrite and how to prepare it for ingestion. Tragically, 15% of the cases reviewed in the study involved online activity where individuals openly discussed their intentions before taking their own lives.
The report also noted that in nearly all cases, sodium nitrite was the sole poison used, with victims often measuring out specific amounts to ensure a lethal dose. Some even went as far as using anti-nausea medication, following advice from these forums, to prevent vomiting and ensure the poison was effective.
Given its alarming rise, the report calls for increased regulation and restriction of sodium nitrite sales. Online retailers like Amazon have already taken some action by restricting the sale of the drug in response to lawsuits involving teen suicides. Nonetheless, the continued availability of sodium nitrite online remains a significant concern for mental health experts.
The study also suggests that media coverage of high-profile suicides involving sodium nitrite may have further exacerbated its misuse. Drawing attention to the method in the press could unintentionally lead to a “copycat” effect, where vulnerable individuals are drawn to the method. The report recommends that media outlets avoid providing specific details about suicide methods, particularly those involving such lethal substances.
Sodium nitrite is not yet a widely recognised means of suicide in the public consciousness, but its rise signals a dangerous new trend. With young people disproportionately affected, the study emphasises the importance of addressing the root causes of suicide, such as mental health treatment gaps, while also restricting access to means that make taking one’s own life easier.
