Jeanette M. Garcia, Kristy A. Anderson, John R. Moore, Tanya Renn, Jessica E. Rast
{"title":"Prevalence of Substance Use Disorder Among Autistic Youth With and Without Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions and a History of Trauma","authors":"Jeanette M. Garcia, Kristy A. Anderson, John R. Moore, Tanya Renn, Jessica E. Rast","doi":"10.1002/aur.70081","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n <p>There is limited research on the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in autistic youth. Additionally, while mental health conditions and history of trauma have been associated with a higher prevalence of SUD in non-autistic youth, the research in autistic youth is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of SUDs in autistic youth compared to non-autistic youth with co-occurring mental health conditions and adverse childhood experiences. Data from 22,828 autistic youth and 601,348 non-autistic youth were drawn from the Child and Caregiver Linked Utilization and Outcomes Database (CCOULD). SUDs were identified using categorized ICD-10 diagnostic codes, and mental health comorbidities included six conditions (ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, trauma/stress-related disorders), substantiated maltreatment allegations, and placement history. Overall prevalence of SUD was lower among autistic youth (1.7%) compared to non-autistic youth (3.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Both mental health comorbidities and maltreatment allegations were significantly associated with having a SUD, regardless of autism diagnosis. Placement in out-of-home care significantly reduced the likelihood of SUD among non-autistic youth (UOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.80–0.87) but more than doubled the odds among autistic youth (UOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.88–2.97). While prevalence rates of SUDs are lower in autistic youth compared to non-autistic youth, the presence of co-occurring mental health conditions and adverse childhood experiences may increase SUD rates to a greater extent in autistic youth. Future research should further investigate the complex relationships among SUDs, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health conditions in autistic youth.</p>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"18 8","pages":"1704-1713"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Autism Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aur.70081","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
There is limited research on the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in autistic youth. Additionally, while mental health conditions and history of trauma have been associated with a higher prevalence of SUD in non-autistic youth, the research in autistic youth is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of SUDs in autistic youth compared to non-autistic youth with co-occurring mental health conditions and adverse childhood experiences. Data from 22,828 autistic youth and 601,348 non-autistic youth were drawn from the Child and Caregiver Linked Utilization and Outcomes Database (CCOULD). SUDs were identified using categorized ICD-10 diagnostic codes, and mental health comorbidities included six conditions (ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, trauma/stress-related disorders), substantiated maltreatment allegations, and placement history. Overall prevalence of SUD was lower among autistic youth (1.7%) compared to non-autistic youth (3.8%, p < 0.001). Both mental health comorbidities and maltreatment allegations were significantly associated with having a SUD, regardless of autism diagnosis. Placement in out-of-home care significantly reduced the likelihood of SUD among non-autistic youth (UOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.80–0.87) but more than doubled the odds among autistic youth (UOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.88–2.97). While prevalence rates of SUDs are lower in autistic youth compared to non-autistic youth, the presence of co-occurring mental health conditions and adverse childhood experiences may increase SUD rates to a greater extent in autistic youth. Future research should further investigate the complex relationships among SUDs, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health conditions in autistic youth.
期刊介绍:
AUTISM RESEARCH will cover the developmental disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (or autism spectrum disorders – ASDs). The Journal focuses on basic genetic, neurobiological and psychological mechanisms and how these influence developmental processes in ASDs.