Empowering Autistic Recovery: Alternatives to Abstinence Models Standard addiction frameworks often overlook the unique needs of Autistic individuals, assuming uniform recovery paths and relying heavily on group therapies, which can be overwhelming. Autistic people advocate for harm reduction and personalised support instead of strict abstinence, emphasizing the importance of addressing unmet needs and understanding their experiences rather than moral judgments.
Challenging Military Alcohol Norms: A Path to Change Trevor Semeniuk reflects on his struggles with alcohol, shaped by military culture that encourages drinking while penalising related behavior. Now four years sober, he questions the normalisation of alcohol in the military. As an advocate for change, he shares personal stories to inspire vulnerability and foster community understanding.
Improving Substance-Use Services for Autistic Adults We are excited to announce that the first journal article under ASUN has been published through Autism in Adulthood (on Autism Awareness and Acceptance day, no less). The article is called “Improving Substance-Use Services for Autistic Adults: Insights and Recommendations from Autistic Adults.” Our findings in this paper show that substance-use support services for autisticContinue reading “Improving Substance-Use Services for Autistic Adults”
Addiction On World Mental Health Day Yesterday (10th October) was world mental health day. It is a day when we are encouraged to be open about the all too often silent struggle of mental health problems and push back against the stigma. Sadly, one of the aspects often left out of the conversation is addiction. It has become an increasingly avoidedContinue reading “Addiction On World Mental Health Day”
Is all substance use harmful? The Autistic Substance Use Network (ASUN) emphasizes the need to understand the prevalence and implications of substance use among Autistic individuals. Research shows significant use, particularly among Autistic females, necessitating tailored harm reduction approaches. Substance use is complex, influenced by social dynamics, and should be approached flexibly rather than through rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions.
