aspies and drugs

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Actually, cannabis can become addictive.

Getting most drugs requires making and maintaining social connections. People on the spectrum aren't so good at either.

Yes, it can be. It is not "physically" addictive like heroin. For some there is a strong physiological addiction. Which is actually the more powerful of types of addiction. Physical addiction ends once someone has detoxed from a substance. It is the physiological component of addiction that draws an addict back months or years later.

I personally have struggled a lot over the decades with cannabis addiction. I know for a FACT from a lot of personal experience that YES, weed is addictive. I have smoked enough over the years to know that. Yes, it did have some therapeutic value for me, it helped me with depression, anxiety, and concentration. BUT, as far as my use goes, when I start using the stuff, I do it 24/7, there is no such thing as moderation with weed as far as my use goes. So, I chose to stop, my tolerance to the stuff got so great that it became a waste of time, I couldn't get "high" anymore.

As far as the topic of the thread goes. I don't really know how AS effects the tendency towards addiction to drugs, including alcohol. For all I know the same percentage of aspies are alcoholics/addicts as with NT's. maybe it's less, maybe it's more.

Alcohol is a strong social elixer, it would be understandable that aspies could have a tendency towards alcoholism.
A book I read recently called "Asperger syndrome and alcohol, drinking to cope" by Matthew Tinsey & Sarah Hendrickx supports that hypothesis.

But the social difficulties may hinder an aspies ability to acquire illegal substances, since the black market is dependent on social contact. I know for myself, many of my times off weed we're simply because I didn't have the social contacts to get any.

As far as "harder" stuff goes. I never did any coke or speed, I've only tried opiates on a handful of occasions, I've done LSD half a dozen times, and mushrooms once. I didn't really have such a good reaction to the psychedelics.
I've had several bad trips. I suspect that my hypersensitivity may have been a factor in those bad trips. I for one would discourage autistics from using hallucinogens. It may not go bad every time, but there could be a greater chance of having a REALLY bad time.

Some of us(like me) were sometimes assumed to be on drugs when we teens because of our weird behavior/Aspieness & we may of heard anti-drug speeches, had our privacy violated by people raiding our stuff searching so we were more afraid to try as a result. Also some see docs/psychs for for different issues & drugs can interfere with meds or they are worried about their docs or others finding out by doing different lab test

I took Daytrona for ADHD but it made me borderline anorexic. I was NEVER hungry when I took it.

My interests can calm me down when I am feeling uneasy or anxiety-ridden. And other times I might work a puzzle or surf the net. But as for drugs---I have never done drugs. And I have no desire to do drugs.

You think they actually care about the welfare of people who abuse drugs? What they really care about is the huge amount of criminall activity related to drugs, the only way to completely rid of it is by eradicating all drug use, which isn't going to happen any time soon. Marijuana might as well be legalized as it's less harmful than alcohol or tobacco, but it is not harmless.

I'm so used too smoking weed all alone then playing a video game that when I smoke with people I start too feel very akward but I'm trying to get over that feeling.

I would rather be addicted to cannabis than nicotine, but no I'm addicted to nicotine but not cannabis.

Even though it sometimes can be too much to handle, I like being in control of my thoughts and decisions. To think that some drugs will inhibit my ability to control this highly developed aspect of myself is far more frightening than sensory issues I am confronted with. Furthermore, there are other health risks that can be caused by various drugs. I can't see the purpose of recreational drugs. They don't seem to solve any problems; they just make you less aware of your problems and further provide you with new ones (i.e addiction.) This is definitely not something I'd want, especially considering the risks. As for drugs relieving sensory overload; I think there are other healthier solutions that can be implemented. Now if a drug proves to have none of these harmful effects, and has been highly tested by various companies and millions of individuals(meaning it must be legal) I'd be more open to taking it; however, most seem to come with side-effects and it is even more frightening to think of any side-effects that might be unknown or not mentioned based on the individual use. Drugs would be the absolute last resort for me, and only if I know they won't prove to be detrimental to other aspects of my mental and physical health.

I'm not sure how others feel, but those are my thoughts on drugs and why it is very, very, very unlikely that I'd ever take any, and that is only if I've done my research. It is impossible for me to take anything illegal, as I assume they're illegal for a reason. This is all relevant to consistent drug use by the way, I'd take cold medicine or pain reliever(Ibuprofen for example) from time to time, when they're required. Same would be the case if I were severely injured or required surgery. However, I'll never take drugs solely for the purpose of recreation or to relieve sensory overload. I don't have the medical knowledge to be certain that I'm taking them safely, so I will leave that to a doctor.

Don't just assume that things are always made illegal for the best interest of the public. Frequently laws are passed to protect the special interests of those who manipulate the politicians.

There are a few reasons why I've never taken any illegal drugs:

they are illegal - I don't break the law
my parents told me not to and I always obeyed them as a child/teenager
I don't like not being in control of my own actions
I don't like risking being taken advantage of or compromising my own personal safety
I don't know what toxic effects they might have on my mind and/or body

I've never even tried smoking either and seldom drink, for similar reasons. Alcohol has an immediate effect on me and I can only take a couple of glasses of wine before I start to feel I've had enough.

Last edited by Mummy_of_Peanut on 09 Dec 2011, 7:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

Yes but, to be fair, a person can become psychologically addicted to absolutely anything, so it's hardly a solid argument against cannabis. I'm addicted to the internet, for example - I literally get withdrawal symptoms if I have to go long periods without access to it.

a strong reason as to why not a lot of aspies show up in addiction numbers is that most of the medication taken is on prescription; i myself try to stay off of any form of (self-)medication if i can survive without it, to prevent major problems if i find myself unable to medicate for some reason.

my poison of choice is indeed alcohol with a dash of cannabis if i really feel weak, but i can usually make due with meditation and withdrawals

People always ask me if I am high. And half of the time I am.. Kid kid, actually rarely but I do get comments that I look and behave like high.

yeah meditation and withdrawal seems to be our primary coping mechanism on overload and depression. I wonder why this is the case, - are they just more effective than any drugs, or are there strong causes which hinder use using these more "effective" pain killers called drugs.

Your comments have been very insightful. So far, I see the following arguments which stop to use drugs:

- obey to parents
- strong will to do the right (logically, ethically)
- strong will to do things which last for the future
- strong will to be in control of your body, thinking, and doings


thanks,
anton