Dual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and substance use disorder

Special issues of rehabilitation

Abstract

Living at the intersection of autism and substance use disorder is perhaps one of the most difficult conditions. As adults and young adults with autism, they often experience that they are faulty and they violate the society and its system of rules with all their movements and manifestations. However, with drugs, if only for a while, they are able to control that part of their personality that cannot be integrated into their environment. They would be able to start a life where this will be their new, special area of interest, around which their life will move. When there comes the point that, like the majority of neurotypicals, they perceive that they have become addicted, the same shame that they have felt due to their autistic traits and behavior throughout their lives, comes to the fore again, but more intensely. My goal is to reveal this special situation, the solution of which would be complicated and expensive in our current care system, but by adopting the appropriate methodology and practices from the countries at the forefront of relevant research, it can be a realistic goal for social work in our country as well.

The article was received: 15. 12. 2022., revised: 19. 12. 2022., accepted: 20. 12. 2022.