About this Research Topic
There is increasing recognition that autistic individuals face higher rates of substance use-related problems than the general population, and this risk may be facilitated by heightened rates of trauma and social coping, including camouflaging/masking. Simultaneously, paternalistic assumptions and constructed narratives, both of autism and substance use, promote false impressions that autistic people are too child-like and naïve to use alcohol and drugs, have aversions to substance-related sensations, are unable to access addictive substances, and/or have the same motivations for substance use as non-autistic people (e.g., to self-medicate, to fit in). Such impressions, along with dated and inadequate assessments of substance use in autistic individuals, which have often focused primarily on autistic people who require greater assistance or treatment, have damaged our ability to realize and offer appropriate treatment options to those affected by substance use in the broader autism community.
Published information concerning the overlap between autism and substance use has thus far been generally descriptive. An understanding of how the autism community has been affected by the opioid epidemic and what substance use treatment approaches are most palatable and effective for individuals in the autism community, for example, is sorely lacking.
Given the higher risk for behavioral addiction and substance use-related problems confronting autistic individuals, these issues should be investigated, preferably with input from the autism community.
This Research Topic seeks to gather new articles that expand our understanding of the nature of substance use-related problems and addiction treatment preferences in autistic individuals, as well as address potential mechanisms underlying increased risk for substance use, misuse, and addiction disorders in autism spectrum disorders.
The Research Topic is seeking original experimental articles, commentaries and reviews, and methods concerning overlap in autism and substance use and misuse behaviors leading to pathological addiction, including internet addiction, exercise addiction, compulsive behaviors, and sexual compulsivity pathological behaviors.
Research will be based either on preclinical animal models or human populations.
The following themes may be used as guidance, but additional, relevant themes will be considered:
• Potential underlying biological mechanisms, including but not limited to dopaminergic dysregulation and synaptic alterations
• Potentially involved genes
• Related behaviors, such as repetitive or restricted behaviors and compulsive behaviors
• Commonly co-occurring mental health concerns and complicating factors, such as anxiety, depression, impulsivity, ADHD, stress, social or sensory challenges, bullying or trauma, and related self-medication
• Association between adverse child experiences, masking, and substance use in autistic people
• Behavioral addictions, such as those concerning internet use, exercise, compulsive shopping, sex, eating, gambling, and gaming.
• Autistic perspectives on substance use, prescription drug misuse, and desired supports
Published information concerning the overlap between autism and substance use has thus far been generally descriptive. An understanding of how the autism community has been affected by the opioid epidemic and what substance use treatment approaches are most palatable and effective for individuals in the autism community, for example, is sorely lacking.
Given the higher risk for behavioral addiction and substance use-related problems confronting autistic individuals, these issues should be investigated, preferably with input from the autism community.
This Research Topic seeks to gather new articles that expand our understanding of the nature of substance use-related problems and addiction treatment preferences in autistic individuals, as well as address potential mechanisms underlying increased risk for substance use, misuse, and addiction disorders in autism spectrum disorders.
The Research Topic is seeking original experimental articles, commentaries and reviews, and methods concerning overlap in autism and substance use and misuse behaviors leading to pathological addiction, including internet addiction, exercise addiction, compulsive behaviors, and sexual compulsivity pathological behaviors.
Research will be based either on preclinical animal models or human populations.
The following themes may be used as guidance, but additional, relevant themes will be considered:
• Potential underlying biological mechanisms, including but not limited to dopaminergic dysregulation and synaptic alterations
• Potentially involved genes
• Related behaviors, such as repetitive or restricted behaviors and compulsive behaviors
• Commonly co-occurring mental health concerns and complicating factors, such as anxiety, depression, impulsivity, ADHD, stress, social or sensory challenges, bullying or trauma, and related self-medication
• Association between adverse child experiences, masking, and substance use in autistic people
• Behavioral addictions, such as those concerning internet use, exercise, compulsive shopping, sex, eating, gambling, and gaming.
• Autistic perspectives on substance use, prescription drug misuse, and desired supports
Keywords: autism, substance use, addiction, behavioral addiction, treatment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
