Burnett Alexander C R, Chen Nicola A, McGillivray Lauren, Larsen Mark E, Torok Michelle
Black Dog Institute, New South Wales.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2021 Jun;45(3):242-247. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13087. Epub 2021 Mar 22.
There have been concerns about the increased use of helium and nitrogen gas as a suicide mechanism in Australia.
National Coronial Information System data were used to investigate gas-specific suicides in Australia over the period 2006-2017. Characteristics were compared between helium or nitrogen, carbon monoxide and seven other gases.
Gas inhalation accounted for 10% (3,103/31,002) of all suicide deaths in Australia between 2006 and 2017. The mean age of individuals who died by suicide was 47.6 years (SD 16.9, R 14-97) and 83.3% were male. The number of gas suicides declined over the study period (IRR=0.96). The fall was associated with a 47% decline in carbon monoxide suicides (IRR=0.93). There was an increase in deaths due to argon (IRR=1.60) and nitrogen (IRR=1.27). Compared to individuals using other non-carbon monoxide gases, individuals who died by suicide from helium or nitrogen were significantly more likely to be older, have a physical illness and/or disability, have contacted a euthanasia group and have accessed instructional material and purchased gas online.
Suicides by carbon monoxide decreased between 2006 and 2017 alongside an increase in argon and nitrogen gas use - particularly among older adults. The ease of access to these gases points to new targets for means restriction. Implications for public health: Identifying the types of gases used in suicide deaths and emerging trends may enable targeted interventions that could potentially reduce access.
在澳大利亚，人们对将氦气和氮气用作自杀手段的情况日益增多表示担忧。
利用国家死因裁判信息系统的数据，对2006年至2017年期间澳大利亚特定气体自杀情况进行调查。对氦气或氮气、一氧化碳以及其他七种气体的特征进行了比较。
2006年至2017年期间，吸入气体自杀占澳大利亚所有自杀死亡人数的10%（3103/31002）。自杀死亡者的平均年龄为47.6岁（标准差16.9，范围14 - 97岁），83.3%为男性。在研究期间，气体自杀的数量有所下降（发病率比值比=0.96）。这种下降与一氧化碳自杀数量下降47%（发病率比值比=0.93）有关。氩气（发病率比值比=1.60）和氮气（发病率比值比=1.27）导致的死亡人数有所增加。与使用其他非一氧化碳气体的人相比，因吸入氦气或氮气自杀死亡的人明显更有可能年龄较大、患有身体疾病和/或残疾、曾联系过安乐死组织、获取过指导材料并在网上购买过气体。
2006年至2017年期间，一氧化碳自杀有所减少，同时氩气和氮气的使用有所增加——尤其是在老年人中。这些气体获取的便利性指出了限制自杀手段的新目标。对公共卫生的影响：确定自杀死亡中使用的气体类型和新出现的趋势，可能有助于实施有针对性的干预措施，从而有可能减少获取途径。
