R01AA029008

Prevalence, Onset, and Progression of Substance Use in Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders - Project Summary

Alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUD) in adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been considered rare by mental health professionals. This conclusion has primarily been based on clinical experience as the empirical literature on alcohol and other drug (AOD) use in the US is virtually non-existent.

Scandinavian health registry studies suggest AOD use is lower in the ASD population overall compared to the general public. Clinical studies also indicate lower rates of AOD in persons diagnosed with ASD compared to persons diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, rates of AOD use as high as 30% have been reported in the ASD population. In addition, there appear to be subgroups of persons with ASD, such as those with co-occurring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with substantial rates of AOD use and AUDs that not only rival persons with other psychiatric disorders but also indicate a need for proper identification and, when indicated, treatment.

Importantly, prevalence estimates for ASD have increased in the past 10-20 years, and a large proportion of that increase includes individuals with higher cognitive and language functioning. This subset of the ASD population is more likely to be included in and exposed to normative educational and social contexts, increasing the risk for AOD use.

The literature strongly supports the need for detailed and reliable information on the prevalence of AOD in a representative sample of adolescents and young adults with ASD in the US. In this application, we propose to assess a large, well-characterized, population-based ASD sample (Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment - RI-CART) that will enable us to provide, by far, the most in-depth characterization of AOD use and AUD prevalence in the ASD population in the US, as well as data regarding AOD onset and rate of progression to more severe use and AUDs.

Equally important is the need to verify or refute risk and protective factors for AOD in this population. We will examine comorbid conditions, with a specific focus on ADHD and anxiety disorders. We will also characterize the factors inducing the risk of AOD use at critical junctions for adolescents and young adults with ASD, such as the transition to independent living, which is often associated with greater peer contact and less structure and social control.

We propose to study a subsample of RI-CART participants (N=410) aged 12-24 years, who either have an IQ ≥ 85 or an IQ ≥ 75 and are verbally fluent, in a 4-wave longitudinal, cohort-sequential study. We will examine AOD use in relation to age, as well as in relation to key developmental transitions (e.g., into and from high school, into supervised living or independent living/college).

Brown University

TO DEVELOP A SOUND FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE BASE WHICH CAN BE APPLIED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED METHODS OF TREATMENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING ALCOHOLISM AND ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM (NIAAA) SUPPORTS RESEARCH IN A BROAD RANGE OF DISCIPLINES AND SUBJECT AREAS RELATED TO BIOMEDICAL AND GENETIC FACTORS, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS AND MEDICAL DISORDERS, HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, AND PREVENTION AND TREATMENT RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.273 - Alcohol Research Programs

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) [HHS - NIH]

Rhode Island United States

State-Wide

Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-19-056)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 368% from $712,468 to $3,335,148.