• People use drugs and alcohol for a variety of different reasons and experiences are individualistic. It is unknown why some people develop an addiction whereas others can more effectively control their use of alcohol or drugs
• Nobody uses alcohol or drugs with the intention of becoming addicted
• Autistic people can use drugs and alcohol for the same reasons as non-autistic people, but in particular to cope with mental distress or to cope with social situations
• Despite the reason for using drugs or alcohol, reliance on their use can develop into an addiction

People might use drugs or alcohol for a variety of different reasons, such as to “fit in” with friends, to cope with feelings or mental health problems, or simply because they like the way it makes them feel.

Not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol will become addicted. Many people drink alcohol or use drugs without losing control over their use and are able to stop at any time, whereas for some people are not.

It is not fully clear why some people find it more difficult to control their drug or alcohol use and become addicted. Researchers suggest it could be a mixture of a person’s biology and their genes, their environment, and the development of their brains.

Despite you may feel about someone with an addiction, it is important to remember that nobody uses alcohol or drugs with the intention of becoming addicted.

Autistic people, like non-autistic people, might use drugs and alcohol for a variety of different reasons. However, research in this area had highlighted two potential reasons that may impact drug and alcohol use in particular for autistic people.

One of the reasons researchers found as a motivation for autistic people using drugs or alcohol is in order to cope with mental health problems.

Coping with mental health problems by using alcohol or drugs has also been seen in non-autistic people. People use drugs or alcohol in order to feel better or to distract from their mental health difficulties, such as anxiety and depression.

However, the effects are not permanent and an addiction can develop as the person becomes more reliant on using drugs and alcohol for this reason.

The reason autistic people might be particularly at risk of using drugs or alcohol this way is because anxiety and depression difficulties are common for autistic people.

Another reason an autistic person may use alcohol or drugs is to help them “fit in” socially.

While non-autistic people also might use alcohol or drugs to fit in within a social environment, autistic people might do so with a very clear aim. Autistic people might use alcohol or drugs to “mask” or “hide” any behaviours or speech that they believe make them appear autistic.

While they may feel using alcohol or drugs this way helps them, it is important to remember an over-reliance on the drug or alcohol may lead to the development of an addiction. Additionally, while alcohol is legal, using other illegal drugs carry risks of being arrested.

It is important for everyone, autistic or not, to reflect and think about their relationship with alcohol or drugs. If someone is using drugs or alcohol to cope socially or with their mental health, questions they could ask themselves could be:

• Do I need to drink or use drugs before or during any social interaction?
• Do I feel like I can't engage in social situations if I don’t drink or use drugs?
• Is my drinking or drug use impacting other parts of my life (such as work or family relations)?
• Do I have full control over my drug or drinking?
• Do I need to use drugs or drink in order to feel better?

Techniques to assess drug or alcohol use can be found in the relevant section.