What Is The Link Between Autism And Substance Use Disorder?

Patients with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are more vulnerable to substance use disorder (SUD).

The study is published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

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‘Autism patients are more vulnerable to substance use disorder, especially those who did not receive psychotropic agents and have co morbid behavioral disorders such as impulse control disorder and tic disorder.. Patients with autism and SUD showed high mortality.’
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Autism spectrum disorder is a heritable, neurological development disorder characterized by impairment in communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviors or interests. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a serious condition that can negatively affect the health of an individual and can even lead to death.

The most common co morbid neurodevelopmental disorder associated with substance use disorder is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recent studies have showed that overlapping neural circuits and molecular signaling pathways between ASD and SUD some of which are also implicated in the development of ADHD.

Motor cognition dysfunction which contributes to social dysfunction in patients with ASD is also a key factor in the drug-seeking and drug taking behaviors in patients with SUD. Very little attention has been paid to the association between ASD and SUD.

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For the study, 6599 patients with ASD were followed for 16 years suggesting that those diagnosed with ASD had a higher risk of SUD and mortality than the general population. The study also determined the associations of psychotropic agents (PAs) and SUD. It was found that ASD patients receiving one or multiple PAs had lower risks of SUD than the ASD patients not receiving any PAs.

The risk of SUDs can be reduced in ASD patients if they take psychotropic agents (PAs) and maintain a stable condition.

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It was also found that ASD patients with co morbid impulse control disorders or tic disorder (compulsive repetitive sound or movement that is difficult to control) who did not receive psychotropic agents (PAs) were at a higher risk of developing SUDs than non-ASD individuals with the same co morbid condition.

However, there were some limitations to the study. First, the severity of ASD was not included hence the association between severity of ASD and risk of SUD could not be examined. Secondly, only four cases of tobacco use disorder were reported.

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Source-Medindia