Despite the strong empirical evidence linking alcohol use across varying levels to suicidal behavior, the field is lacking a unifying theoretical framework in this area. The concept of alcohol induced myopia to explain the varied effects of alcohol on the behaviors of individuals who drink has been proposed. The term "alcohol myopia" refers to its ability to restrict attention to immediate situations, inhibit problem solving ability, and, under certain conditions to limit hope for the future. Thus, this conceptualization of the cognitive effects of alcohol use could have value in understanding the alcohol-suicide relationship across levels of use from "social" consumption to alcoholism. It can be suggested that the cognitive concomitants of suicidal behavior could result from alcohol use or be exacerbated by alcohol use. Alcohol use could be conceptualized as having a reciprocal relationship with everyday life challenges. The effects of these challenges for alcohol abusers may be exacerbated by the pharmacological and social/environmental effects of prolonged use. The resulting myopic effect of alcohol consumption, regardless of level of use, may lead the user to an increased focus on his/her problems, and in the presence of suicidal ideation, result in suicidal behavior. (ABL)