Journal article
Comparing the prevalence of substance use disorders between persons with and without autism spectrum disorders
Autism : the international journal of research and practice
29 Mar 2025
PMID: 40156509
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Recent research has suggested that people with autism spectrum disorder may be disproportionately at risk of substance use disorders. This study analyzed national-level Medicaid Claims data to compare substance use disorder prevalence among Medicaid enrollees with autism spectrum disorder ( N = 388,426) and a random sample of enrollees without autism spectrum disorder ( n = 745,699) and to examine whether this association differs across sex and age groups and changes after adjusting for co-occurring mental health conditions. We also examined how the association between autism spectrum disorder and substance use disorder is moderated by co-occurring non-autism spectrum disorder mental health conditions and by community-level social determinants of health by merging Medicaid Claims data with zip code-level US Census data on socioeconomic deprivation. By 2016, 7% of Medicaid beneficiaries with autism spectrum disorder and no intellectual disability had at least one substance use disorder diagnosis, up from 1.75% USD prevalence among enrollees with autism spectrum disorder (no intellectual disability) in 2012 Medicaid data. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder aged 30–64 years were at an elevated risk of cannabis and hallucinogen disorders; this risk is likely compounded by co-occurring mental health conditions, which affect a half of all individuals with autism spectrum disorder and only 23% of individuals without autism spectrum disorder. Research and policy implications are discussed in turn.
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Details
- Title
- Comparing the prevalence of substance use disorders between persons with and without autism spectrum disorders
- Creators
- Victor Lushin - National Institutes of Health, USASteven Marcus - California University of PennsylvaniaSha Tao - Drexel UniversityMalitta Engstrom - California University of PennsylvaniaAnne Roux - Drexel UniversityLindsay Shea - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Autism : the international journal of research and practice
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): UJ2MC31073, UT6MC45902
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This project is supportedby the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreements UJ2MC31073 and UT6MC45902 Autism Transitions Research Project. The information, content, and/or conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Alternative Approaches to Supporting ASD Services for Young Adults, 5R01MH117653 (L.S., PI).
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute; Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001455234800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105002029013
- Other Identifier
- 991022043943204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Developmental