Considerations for Treating Young People With Comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder and Substance Use Disorder

Although substance use disorder (SUD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are highly comorbid with other mental disorders and commonly have onset during childhood,¹ little attention has been paid to their overlap. Despite limited data suggesting that up to 4% of patients with ASD also have substance-related problems,² there are no existing guidelines, protocols, or tailored resources focused on SUD in young people with co-occurring ASD. This is concerning given that the simultaneous presence of these disorders presents unique challenges that complicate clinical care. In particular, many of the symptoms of ASD can interfere with standard SUD treatment. Thus, when treating patients with this comorbidity, practitioners should consider the following: communication difficulties, diminished capacity for motivation and insight, limited social interactions, and obstacles to treatment engagement.