@article{ref1,
title="Alcohol use patterns among underage autistic and non-autistic youth",
journal="Journal of autism and developmental disorders",
year="2023",
author="Holmes, Laura Graham and Xuan, Ziming and Quinn, Emily and Caplan, Reid and Sanchez, Amelia and Wharmby, Peter and Holingue, Calliope and Levy, Sharon and Rothman, Emily F.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: We explored factors predicting repeated or hazardous alcohol use among autistic and non-autistic U.S. youth ages 16 to 20 years. <br><br>METHODS: Autistic (n = 94) and non-autistic (n = 92) youth completed an online survey. By design, half of each group reported past-year alcohol use. We compared drinking patterns for autistic and non-autistic youth, and within each group between abstinent or infrequent drinkers (0-1 drinking episodes in past year) versus those who drank 2 + times in past year. <br><br>RESULTS: Autistic (vs. non-autistic) youth who drank did so less frequently and consumed fewer drinks per occasion. However, 15% of autistic youth who drank in the past year reported heavy episodic drinking and 9.3% screened positive for AUDIT-C hazardous drinking. For autistic youth only, a diagnosis of depression, bullying or exclusion histories were positively associated with drinking 2 + times in the past year. Autistic youth who put more effort into masking autistic traits were less likely to report drinking 2 + times in the past year. As compared to non-autistic youth, autistic participants were less likely to drink for social reasons, to conform, or to enhance experiences, but drank to cope at similar rates. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Repeated and hazardous underage alcohol occur among autistic youth. Targeted prevention programs designed to address the specific drinking profiles of autistic youth are needed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0162-3257",
doi="10.1007/s10803-023-06086-4",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06086-4"
}