ASD Teenager and cannabis addiction

Hi, I understand you, since I have a child who had the same problem a couple of years ago. My son got very hooked on weed, and it just broke me at some point, as I realized that I might not be as good a mother as I imagined. It was too hard for me because my son always seemed to be the world's most correct and happy child. Then I started listening to and hearing him, and together we tried to solve the problems that had arisen in our lives with him. I helped arrange a card for him to buy cannabis through https://marijuanadoctor.com/locations/marijuana-doctor-tallahassee. After that, our life became easier, as my son became much calmer and easier to relate to his addiction and problems

But I have never thought that the patients could become addicted to it.
I use some cannabis too to reduce the anxiety and stress levels sometimes. Still, I have never felt that I am becoming addicted. I get it from [link deleted by moderator] and think it is THC free. That’s why I don’t become addicted, maybe.
I think this kid should switch to something else. Something like lighter cannabis or CBD gummies.

This is the first time I have seen this story. I used to think that cannabis could be really useful for people with some medical conditions like Alzheimer’s and Tourette syndromes.

It helps me,. I’m sorry if my opinion is ill. I’m also medically certified* it may slow everything down so he can cope. Or it may be the addictive ocd part of it.

maybe open your options and find out how to support him with cannabis or you will need to find something that over powers the cannabis.. Lego cars computers girls etc. 

if he’s gone this far with it, he’ll carry on no matter what you do unless he’s taken away from it.. you can’t go-kart high. 

it’s not an addiction. I’ve proved this to myself many times, it’s a routine that’s difficult to over power. 

steve 

No, there are no specific services that will be suitable to support your son. Cannabis is not great substance used long term as the body becomes resistant and dependant of the substance which makes individuals go seeking for something stronger.

The best thing you can do is take him down to your local police station and arrange them to scare him straight by keeping him in a cell over night and giving him a caution. The bright lights of the cells should be enough to deter him from using or carrying the substance. you have to be cruel to be kind in this situation.

it's problematic to break addiction when you younger then 25, or about  that, before the brain fully matures, non autistic or autistic

first required thing for the process to work is the will of the participant

if you push autistic you will only ad trauma to addiction

I go into depth in this podcast  I did recently https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/justin-clarke-cannabis-autism-and-me/id1506685543?i=1000505211110 or https://cannabisvoices.buzzsprout.com/989611/7243936-justin-clarke-cannabis-autism-and-me or https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hrWxwuuixm84fcUBROtni?si=AFtfOnQ9Shel9D6H64Bkkg 

I was also included in this article which includes a review of the current research and science in the area as well www.projectcbd.org/.../cannabis-and-autism-complex-pairing

I also did this speech in parliament 2 years ago just before the law changed: www.youtube.com/watch

Essentially to summarise the world is overwhelming to me;

• From a sensory perspective
• From an emotional processing perspective
• From an executive functioning perspective
• From a social perspective

Medical cannabis can help me and has helped me with all of these and enables me to better deal with them.

In the case of the senses I'd say it often enables me to better focus in on individual ones and tone down any that are overwhelming which kind of plays in with the stereotype of it enhancing the senses i.e. making food more enjoyable, enhancing music,  etc.

I use a vaporiser and have never been one to smoke anything.

I feel that many undiagnosed neurodiverse people may be self-medicating with it and, as you say, it is widely stigmatised due to association with "different people" i.e. people of different colours and cultures to the dominating hegemonic one(s).

Since becoming a medical patient I am able to access different strains/varieties that are useful for different things and different times of day, etc. Some of them slow my brain down and make me more empathetic like you describe but others I've found to be an effective substitute for amphetamines that I was prescribed for ADHD. There is a lot of variation in effect depending on what specifically you are getting.

For me I've found that the main danger is if use becomes part of a pattern of avoidance. I tend to use it as an 'enabler' rather than an 'avoider'. Some people can struggle to maintain a balance.

I continue to have a full time job with around the national average salary. My executive functioning is greatly improved when I can 'tune in' to my work better thanks to the right strain.

Happy to answer any questions and/or continue this discussion :-)

wondering how exactly cannabis has helped you? i've tried it for a few years now... it definitely has pluses and minuses, and i've never figured them out. i can see how it can become a problemj --- i also feel it has been heavily stigmatized for decades - basically because people of color used it. if it were booze or tobacco ---- hey, it's all good............................

pot definitely makes me more empathetic - it slows my brain down, actually, some of my senses become acute. that's not what i really want, but for example, i can hear super acutely sometimes high. so, a fan, i can hear the different frequencies it's emitting. different parts of it emit different frequencies.

and 6513 - best of luck with your son's issues...  i would just say i hope the negative stereotypes of pot aren't unduly influencing you, and best of luck with addiction recovery services. i get the impression pot among teen agers is easily abused --- but then - if your son prefers it to his meds, maybe you have to look into that. i just feel you need to look carefully at all avenues, and in detail. (not that you havent). 

hoping for the best for you guys and your son. 

I'm prescribed medical cannabis and find it really effective for alleviating sensory issues and overload amongst other things. Maybe look into getting him legally prescribed? He might be telling the truth and it might actually help him.

Hello NAS, I am experiencing these issues myself with our 16yr old. I appreciate the thread is a year old but did you ever get any useful help? Best wishes, Emily. 

Hello NAS65318, I'm sorry to hear about your son's addiction. You may like to contact our Autism Helpline team who can provide you with information and advice. You can contact the team via telephone on 0808 800 4104 (Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm, Friday 9am to 3pm). Please note that the Helpline is experiencing a high volume of calls and it may take a couple of attempts before you get through to speak to an advisor. All the best.