Asperger's Syndrome and MDMA

A cautionary tale!

At the risk of sounding as though I'm preaching, think carefully about such considerations.

My sons best friend died from the use of MDMA as recently as 2010. She was an independent and strong minded person who; for whatever reason, felt on the outside of things and desperate to be accepted. For that reason she got mixed in with the wrong crowd, who in the end abandoned her when she began to show signs of distress and was clearly unwell whilst under the influence.

As far as I know she was not on the spectrum, but the potency and danger of such drugs in this day and age and the cocktail of drugs now taken with MDMA to heighten and prolong the effects, cannot be underestimated.

My son who is on the spectrum, tried in vain to get others to help her, but nobody would listen. It cost this beautiful teenage girl her life and destroyed my son with grief so deep he was left suicidal himself, having lost someone he loved so dearly.

Healthy debate about such drugs is important, but so too is the balanced view of what can happen in a search for belonging or in a bid to turn down the volume of anxiety levels of those on the spectrum. 

My experience; myself included, is that the propensity to try such drugs, be it alcohol, cigarettes, weed or prescription/non-prescription medication is much higher in those on the spectrum. Anxiety levels can be crippling and the need to self-medicate with whatever that persons drug of choice may be, can be easily increased, either in a bid to be more accepted or to reduce the anxiety that plagues our everyday lives when unsupported or in times of great stress.

In moderation this can be perceived as a benefit by the user, however, dependency for some (Not All) can be very damaging and I’ve known my fair share of people that have gone to excess, through lack of adequate support.

It is no accident that drug and alcohol issues are discussed as part of the condition in sections illustrated on the NAS site and indeed my own family; who have a strong history of Aspergers, have suffered greatly with addiction to both and at considerable cost to other family members and their friends.

It is my belief that greater acceptance and support by Doctors, families and society in general is the key to the reduction in the need ‘to resort to’ or ‘become dependent on’ such crutches and that until such support is forthcoming, many will continue to seek whatever they need in order to cope with life’s challenges.

You will not prevent any individual experimenting with or taking MDMA. Be they NT or Aspie. But they need to be fully aware of the risks and those who are younger can be particularly vulnerable.

Are all on the spectrum faced with such dilemmas? Probably not.

Is excess or moderate drug & alcohol consumption restricted to those on the spectrum? Absolutely not.

However, (and I can only speak from my own personal experiences) awareness of the potential, for a greater propensity of use or reliance by those on the spectrum is 'key.' And genuine support and acceptance of difference 'essential' in negotiating the pathway that is a life with ASD, if use, abuse or dependence is to be lessened.

If such drugs have become even more dangerous over the years, then surely more lives can be saved with greater awareness.

A cautionary tale!

At the risk of sounding as though I'm preaching, think carefully about such considerations.

My sons best friend died from the use of MDMA as recently as 2010. She was an independent and strong minded person who; for whatever reason, felt on the outside of things and desperate to be accepted. For that reason she got mixed in with the wrong crowd, who in the end abandoned her when she began to show signs of distress and was clearly unwell whilst under the influence.

As far as I know she was not on the spectrum, but the potency and danger of such drugs in this day and age and the cocktail of drugs now taken with MDMA to heighten and prolong the effects, cannot be underestimated.

My son who is on the spectrum, tried in vain to get others to help her, but nobody would listen. It cost this beautiful teenage girl her life and destroyed my son with grief so deep he was left suicidal himself, having lost someone he loved so dearly.

Healthy debate about such drugs is important, but so too is the balanced view of what can happen in a search for belonging or in a bid to turn down the volume of anxiety levels of those on the spectrum. 

My experience; myself included, is that the propensity to try such drugs, be it alcohol, cigarettes, weed or prescription/non-prescription medication is much higher in those on the spectrum. Anxiety levels can be crippling and the need to self-medicate with whatever that persons drug of choice may be, can be easily increased, either in a bid to be more accepted or to reduce the anxiety that plagues our everyday lives when unsupported or in times of great stress.

In moderation this can be perceived as a benefit by the user, however, dependency for some (Not All) can be very damaging and I’ve known my fair share of people that have gone to excess, through lack of adequate support.

It is no accident that drug and alcohol issues are discussed as part of the condition in sections illustrated on the NAS site and indeed my own family; who have a strong history of Aspergers, have suffered greatly with addiction to both and at considerable cost to other family members and their friends.

It is my belief that greater acceptance and support by Doctors, families and society in general is the key to the reduction in the need ‘to resort to’ or ‘become dependent on’ such crutches and that until such support is forthcoming, many will continue to seek whatever they need in order to cope with life’s challenges.

You will not prevent any individual experimenting with or taking MDMA. Be they NT or Aspie. But they need to be fully aware of the risks and those who are younger can be particularly vulnerable.

Are all on the spectrum faced with such dilemmas? Probably not.

Is excess or moderate drug & alcohol consumption restricted to those on the spectrum? Absolutely not.

However, (and I can only speak from my own personal experiences) awareness of the potential, for a greater propensity of use or reliance by those on the spectrum is 'key.' And genuine support and acceptance of difference 'essential' in negotiating the pathway that is a life with ASD, if use, abuse or dependence is to be lessened.

If such drugs have become even more dangerous over the years, then surely more lives can be saved with greater awareness.