{"id":17042,"date":"2023-09-25T12:53:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T17:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/last-drum.flywheelsites.com\/?p=17042"},"modified":"2024-04-28T15:44:42","modified_gmt":"2024-04-28T20:44:42","slug":"sensory-issues-substance-use-in-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.org\/sensory-issues-substance-use-in-autism\/","title":{"rendered":"Sensory issues may be a factor in substance use in individuals with autism"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

Sensory issues may play a role in elevated levels of substance abuse in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to a new study from the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

Frank van den Boogert and colleagues note, \u201cASD is considered to be a risk factor for substance abuse, with six times higher risk of substance abuse in persons with ASD in comparison with persons without autistic traits.\u201d However, they say, \u201cAlthough the association between autism spectrum disorder and substance use has been extensively researched, this is not the case for the possible association between sensory processing difficulties and substance use.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Close-up<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

The researchers asked 101 adults with ASD to fill out two questionnaires, the Adolescent\/Adult Sensory Profile and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test \u2013 Consumption. They divided participants into four sensory categories: sensory seeking, sensory sensitivity, sensory avoiding, and low registration (reflecting a high sensory threshold and low levels of responding). They also broke participants into three categories: non-drinkers, non-hazardous drinkers, and hazardous drinkers.<\/p>\n

The researchers report that \u201csensory processing difficulties are associated with alcohol use in adults with ASD.\u201d Drinkers reported higher levels of low registration, non-hazardous drinkers reported higher levels of sensory sensitivity, and hazardous drinkers reported higher levels of sensory seeking in comparison with non-drinkers.<\/p>\n

The researchers say, \u201cSubstance abuse in ASD might in part be explained by sensory processing difficulties.\u201d They add, \u201cWhether alcohol is used as \u2018self-medication\u2019 or is associated with other neurobiological vulnerabilities needs further investigation in larger follow-up studies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cSensory processing and alcohol use in adults with autism spectrum disorder,\u201d Frank van den Boogert, Bram Sizoo, Yvonne H.A. Bouman, Witte J.G. Hoogendijk, and Sabine J. Roza, Alcohol<\/em>, August 19, 2023 (free online). Address: Sabine J. Roza, Department of Psychiatry, Eras\u0002mus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, s.roza@erasmusmc.nl<\/p>\n

It appeared in Autism Research Review International, <\/em><\/a>Vol. 33, No. 2, 2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div>
<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>