Alcohol Use Patterns Among Underage Autistic and Non-Autistic Youth
-
Published:2023-09-26
Issue:
Volume:
Page:
-
ISSN:0162-3257
-
Container-title:Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:J Autism Dev Disord
Author:
Holmes Laura GrahamORCID, Xuan Ziming, Quinn Emily, Caplan Reid, Sanchez Amelia, Wharmby Peter, Holingue Calliope, Levy Sharon, Rothman Emily F.
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
We explored factors predicting repeated or hazardous alcohol use among autistic and non-autistic U.S. youth ages 16 to 20 years.
Methods
Autistic (n = 94) and non-autistic (n = 92) youth completed an online survey. By design, half of each group reported past-year alcohol use. We compared drinking patterns for autistic and non-autistic youth, and within each group between abstinent or infrequent drinkers (0–1 drinking episodes in past year) versus those who drank 2 + times in past year.
Results
Autistic (vs. non-autistic) youth who drank did so less frequently and consumed fewer drinks per occasion. However, 15% of autistic youth who drank in the past year reported heavy episodic drinking and 9.3% screened positive for AUDIT-C hazardous drinking. For autistic youth only, a diagnosis of depression, bullying or exclusion histories were positively associated with drinking 2 + times in the past year. Autistic youth who put more effort into masking autistic traits were less likely to report drinking 2 + times in the past year. As compared to non-autistic youth, autistic participants were less likely to drink for social reasons, to conform, or to enhance experiences, but drank to cope at similar rates.
Conclusion
Repeated and hazardous underage alcohol occur among autistic youth. Targeted prevention programs designed to address the specific drinking profiles of autistic youth are needed.
Funder
National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Reference68 articles.
1. Abdallah, M. W., Greaves-Lord, K., Grove, J., Nørgaard-Pedersen, B., Hougaard, D. M., & Mortensen, E. L. (2011). Psychiatric comorbidities in autism spectrum disorders: Findings from a danish historic birth cohort. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(11), 599–601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0220-2. 2. Adhia, A., Bair-Merritt, M., Broder-Fingert, S., Nunez Pepen, R. A., Suarez-Rocha, A. C., & Rothman, E. F. (2020). The critical lack of data on alcohol and marijuana use by adolescents on the autism spectrum. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0051. 3. Arnevik, E. A., & Helverschou, S. B. (2016). Autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring substance use disorder: A systematic review. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 10, 69–75. 4. Bowri, M., Hull, L., Allison, C., Smith, P., Baron-Cohen, S., Lai, M. C., & Mandy, W. (2021). Demographic and psychological predictors of alcohol use and misuse in autistic adults. Autism, 25(5), 1469–1480. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361321992668. 5. Bradley, K. A., Bush, K. R., McDonell, M. B., Malone, T., Fihn, S. D., & The Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP). (1998). Screening for problem drinking: Comparison of CAGE and AUDIT. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 13, 379–388.
|
|