Control drugs, prevent suicides

A disturbing study released on Thursday by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration finds drug-related suicide attempts by men ages 21 to 34 increased 55 percent from 2005 to 2009. This rapid rate of growth calls for an urgent response. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has introduced a bill to allow doctors and pharmacists to monitor drug prescriptions in real time. Should this become law, doctors will be able to avoid prescribing drugs to patients who have already been given the medication. The federal study cited prescription drugs as part of the problem, and in the fight against drug-related suicide, restricting access is the most important step. Though a new prescription-drug law would be a key step in preventing suicides, it is the first of many that are needed. This is a crisis that needs a response.