son 24 recently diagnosed with ASD and has drug addiction

IF he has ADHD the dope suppressed the impulse control issues, giving him an immediate improvement in some aspects of his quality of life, whilst immediately placing him in the criminal class as far as society is concerned, and also limiting his options in other ways as dope does. 

Cocaine makes you much happier about who you are, as well as providing much needed stimulation. 

Believe it or not, I've found that succesffully building a close relationship with a cat gives me exactly the same cheerful feelings of super-adequacy, at a much lower cost, with zero comedown (unless they die, that is AWFUL for a while, but survivable, just) and a whole lot of lessons in how to take care of what if you do it right, will turn out to be a little someone who loves you just because you exist rather than just a pet. It's WAY cheaper than coke, and buying catfood and toys etc, is way cheaper and much less hassle than "scoring" can be... There is a reason  that they used to be known as "familiars" by the superstitious. they can easily become family. And for Autism reliable and accepting companions like cats, (and apparenlty if you are that way inclined even Dogs) are way better than drugs.

Dogs though are way more subservient and respond well to firm leadership, Cat's will teach you to serve them and will only reward competence and kindess. (ratehr like an Autist I think!) Learning to serve very well and with good humour is a very transferrable real world skill, once mastered. BUt I do it because it visibly makes my cat happy, and having the power to do that on cue makes me very happy indeed. I just wish I could wield it as well in the human world, like many of us undoubtedly do. 

A rule of thumb that has served me very well indeed with drugs ever since cannabis, is to only try any new drug for a short course, (often a ten pound bag, for a first time buyer) then stop and take a month to consider the experience. MDMA for example, alters the way my mind works, literally for weeks after a single dose. So giving yourself a month or so to decide what the drug really did to you, can often blunt what seems like a very strong urge initially to do more, because it's "so great". The problem with the drug lifestyle is pernicious, when you have easy access, but you are weaker when you don't have easy access.

My cat isn't a drug, he is a vibrant little individual, but he does give me an awful lot of what I need to keep balanced, and unlike the drug experience, he comes up with new things to teach me or make me think about, and sometimes even makes me find creative solutions to his problems with boredom, when I would really rather be doing something else. Cats will teach you many things about the importance of rituals, how to remotely influence people at a distance, and most importantly how to nurture real love.   

Kinda curious as to where you get the money to fund a 5 year cocaine addiction, from the age of 19; Thats not "self medication".

I think it's just self-inflicted, that supposedly nothing else will help him, and he can't do without using. It's more likely that he has no incentive or purpose for stopping using. Maybe deep down, he wants to stop using, but the desire is not strong enough. I am very sorry for you and your son that you are facing this situation. Maybe he should try taking up a sport. And switch to, for example, sarms thblack.com/.../. It is better to be addicted to them; besides, they will help in gaining muscle mass. So good luck to you)

Blue, Thank you so much for your reply to my post. I read it to my son and he said 'that's what I have been wanting to hear for so long'. I am now doing to get in touch with Social Services and request an assessment. 

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will have a look at the links.

Hi Mael, Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and share your story. The thing with the cocaine is the high it gives, which my son uses to motivate himself. Cannabis doesn't have the desired effect. He is starting back to work on Monday and we are both hoping that this helps, by keeping him active (he's a seasonal gardener). I have received some other advice to request an assessment from the local authority, which I am going to do. I am also looking into private counselling.

Thank you again.

Julie

Hello I used to self med with cannabis from 15 to 29 ,mixed in that world as a way of coping and people in that world excepted me.

Done everything herion coke speed acid e i found people would have a addition to a main drug each herion or coke  or speed,probably according to there gene makeup.  mine ended up being diazepan which the doctors put me on ?? 150mg a day in the end 

I would try if i where him to stop the coke over the cannabis ,coke is far worse and much more addictive .

I think a understanding of who you are and why you are doing these things helps , but it has to come from with in ,and it is inpossible if you are surrounded by people in the drug world ,before you realise you have done it when offered.

You need time to get over the physical addiction ,,

I hope this gives you a little more understanding ,you just need to be there for him with support so he has some where to go with kind honest fair constructive advice.

Dear Julie1968,

I am sorry to hear that your son hasn't  been able to access help and support with these issues.  You might like to look at our page on addiction which has links to guides for both autistic adults and parents:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/addiction

If you'd like to speak to someone, you might also like to consider contacting our Autism Helpline - you can find the details here:

https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/helpline

I hope that helps.

Regards,

Kerri-Mod

I assume you live in the UK, Firstly autism services around the country do not offer service to assist adults on the autism spectrum to develop coping mechanisms, so please do not accept it’s the drug problem preventing them from helping him, secondly, you need to be aware that the mental health service and the autism services have a duty of care and should have contacted the local authorities to perform a needs assessment which should result social intervention which should include a social worker and drug rehabilitation.

If the mental health service and autism service haven’t requested a needs assessment through the local authority you can request one through your local authority yourself.

It’s very unusual for an individual who are only on the autism spectrum to take cocaine. It may be worth looking into your son having ADHD as well as Autism. cocaine is a stimulant and your son could of initially started taking it because he noticed a significant improvement similar to what he would have noticed if he started taking ADHD medications. I assume this as case and I can relate as a close family friend has just been diagnosis with ADHD after having a cocaine problem. Ironically he has autism too and it started with the use of cannabis to treat the issues with his undiagnosed autism. He has been through the needs assessment too and they have organised help and support and he is in his mid thirties.

the ADHD medications I am talking about isn’t bad at all, but may require someone other your son to control the medication as it can be addictive. But for the majority of people with ADHD who take the medication it allows their brain to function a bit quicker allowing them time to recognise situations better and help with impulsivity.

the weekly meeting are honestly not going work unless they are tailored or accommodative to the understand of autism and ADHD and are just stressing him out. 

contact you local authority for a needs assessment before the drugs do serious harm to his mental capacity or worse he is sections unfairly under the mental health act, your local authority cannot deny him a needs assessment.

he has to get off the coke. or lie? maybe not... i think other people here can relate more than me, but i guess he's self medicating due to asd. i'd suggest: dealing with his asd specifically, esp sensitivities, communication issues, etc.. anything... find him an interest, or encourage his current interests... all that stuff, maybe it would help him so he doesn't have to self medicate. or, it may lessen his need to self medicate so much.

i am in the usa, but i do not quite understand why they would refuse to treat him when he's self medicating (presumably due to asd). it don't make no sense, but u can't fight city hall.

best of luck!

Maybe try to stop the drugs in order to get him prescribed medication along with Counselling. If he can't do it on his own, he may feel he needs to enter rehab for 24 hr help where no drugs are permitted accept prescribed.