Do you think autistic people sometimes self medicate with alchohol?

[loves2learn]

Updates

1 y

Asking relating to a family member. Genuinely curious.

[CrazyGirl2]

I don't think self medicating with alcohol, or any drugs, has anything to do with autism sweetie. People with every possible mental illness, dysfunction, developmental delay, and issues of every type, self medicate with alcohol and drugs, even caffeine and nicotine. If your family member has turned to overusing (or underage using) alcohol, they likely need help. They won't get that help if nobody knows about it. So you have a difficult decision ahead of you. But I hope you make the right one and tell someone so they can get the help they need. (Again, only if they are overusing or are using underage) Autistic people can consume alcohol without it being abuse. The wealthiest man on earth is autistic, and he drinks alcohol without any detrimental effects. So make absolutely sure that there is some form of abuse there before you potentially destroy your relationship with this family member.

Take care, and I truly hope for the very best with your autistic family member.
Laura. 🤗 🥰.

[FreyaRed]

Oh yeah, alcohol is known as best displacement therapy. You displace lesser mental issues with gigantic one like psychical and physical alcohol addiction.

//Sarcasm off

[MisterWack]

A lot of people self medicate with alcohol however it is a slippery slope, actual medication prescribed by a doctor is best… When you drink alcohol you are risking domestic abuse, drunk driving, fatty liver, shortened life if not done in moderation, etc.

[matchrestore]

I think alcohol can make social interactions easier for people with autism, and the social lubricant effect of alcohol is probably more pronounced with people on the autism spectrum.

[matchrestore]

Thanks for the MHO!

[loves2learn]

Very welcome! Thank you for the insightful comment!

[rosemilk]

doesn't everyone have something to self medicate with, regardless if they're autistic or not?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Yes, 100%


In fact, it’s why so many autistic people become alcoholics. The loss of their inhibitions makes it easier for them to interact with others, and when everyone’s drunk the idea of being excluded for weirdness is forgotten, it can seem almost paradisiacal in comparison to being sober. If you want a modern example of this, take a look at WorldOfTShirts on tiktok. He was diagnosed with autism and travels the world, and the app has been carefully documenting his dissent into alcoholism as he grows in fame.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Austism is an unscientific blanket term used to describe a wide variety of sensory and intellectual advantages or deficits, when compared to the way the general public currently percieves things, or rather what most think of the general public's ability to percieve things. In reality its just evolution ruining the illusion that people are "the same".

Most people labeled high functioning hate alcohol because it takes away cognition, and most people labeled low functioning don't comprehend what is or isn't alcohol, and do not have enough agency to obtain alcoholic drinks, so its doubtful.

[Decrepit_Discoverer]

There are people who do not comprehend what is and isn't alcohol?

[Decrepit_Discoverer]

I also think autism is the new normal.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Also worth noting, is that alcohol is not a medication, it serves no benefit and only poisons the body.

@decrepit_discoverer Yes there are people who have severe cognition disabilities, ie the severely mentally retarded. Again austim is a blanket term, calling it "normal" is not really grasping the point.

There is no normal.

[Decrepit_Discoverer]

But I think it is such a cool title to wear. Doesn't everyone want to be autistic?

[TheSpaceGnome]

@Decrepit_Discoverer No.

[AMS700CX4u2]

Yes, they do. Autistic folks deal with social rejection. Nobody understands. Alcohol is cheap relief if the family cannot afford a doctor or the subsequent prescription, or the family won't accept that the child is autistic. It is a terrible resolve and if a firearm gets involved it is tragic.. .

[Lynx122]

I never did that but it's definitely possible. I don't know any autistic people who drink though. I know plenty of people with other mental health problems that do drink and take drugs. So it's probably rarer than the average I'd guess.

[mstbooblover]

Not sure at all for alcohol as medication and autism being linked. Many people drink alcohol, whatever their tendencies or nature. In general alcohol removes some inhibitions, and indeed there is a possibility for autistic people getting a little more social, but keep in mind that inhibitions may consist in many different tendencies, like violence, depression, blabber and snugging for instance. I guess the risks or possible benefits depend on the involved person, whether autistic or not.

[MacDaddyRico]

I had a neighbor with Cerebral Palsy, and he was a drug addict and alcoholic.

Addicts come in all walks of life, including having disabilities.

Many alcoholics/addicts are in denial or are functional alcoholics/addicts, and many disabled people might not be aware of their illness.

[IslaTheWitch]

none of autistic people I know drinks alcohol... I'm on spectrum too... autistic people often take meds so alcohol is a poor choice

[AydenHazor]

Absolutely! There is a higher than average number of autistic and ADHD individuals who have addictions, whether alcohol or drug, due to self medicating and impulse control issues

[Luckycharms12]

Think not just autism loads of people use alcohol to escape from there problems for a while.

[loves2learn]

You are 1000% correct. Thank you for sharing.

[DarkLegacy]

Yeah they do just like a lot of people with conditions like that. Alcohol numbs the senses and can help with anxiety, in particular social anxiety.

[genericname85]

"medicate" would mean improves health. there's only one mecial situation i'm aware of, where alcohol improves your health. and that's during an acute Methanol poisoning xD

[normalice]

No. The pain people use alcohol to self medicate has nothing to do with autism.

[CrabCakes11]

You can’t medicate autism, so technically it’s not self medicating

[AviatorTom]

Some people self-medicate with alcohol, that's not limited to autistic people.

[dolemite58]

Maybe some, I think autistic people’s drug of choice is over working themselves. I think lots of the hyper successful company owners are autistic.

[exitseven]

I suppose some do. Maybe for reasons that have no relationship to autism.

[Kelly6]

@loves2learn Medicate with help of alcohol doesn't sound realistic, but I don't know either. Who love to learn this.

[Wiredone]

I don't know any autistic people well enough to know if they do or not

[krin_m]

It is very possible, especially if they are dealing with anxiety.

Sorry to hear that. :-(

[andy530]

I think a lot of people self medicate with substances

[paledreams]

I doubt it. Most just hide in their shell 🐚 🐢

[Apple1996]

I'm sure some of them do

[Anonymous]

I would be some do.

[handsomelad70]

Yes... just like non-autistic folk.

[jahaims]

That factually happens

[impalabill77]

No I don't think they should.

[Nice222]

Yes I have seen it.

[HelpfulWoman]

easily.

[Loner111]

I can imagine, yes.