Presenters: Liliana Valvano & Laura Graham-Holmes, Hunter College

Substance use disorders (SUD) are a significant problem in the U.S. Autistic people who use substances, particularly those with co-occurring ADHD, may be at a higher risk for developing SUD versus non-autistic people. SUD can have pervasive impacts on a person’s transition to adulthood, employment, relationships, mental, and physical health. Thus, preventing and treating SUD among autistic people is critical for mental health and wellness. Although SUD interventions for adults exist, to date, none have been adapted to be accessible and relevant for autistic people. 

To address this need, we developed the ADAPT intervention. ADAPT is a 6-week, online, group-based psychoeducation workshop, co-facilitated by at least one clinician and one autistic community member. ADAPT uses a harm reduction approach centering self-determination, and was adapted from an existing SUD intervention program in collaboration with five autistic adults who have experienced SUD. ADAPT includes didactic and discussion-based content, allowing autistic participants to feel connected with others and work together to formulate coping strategies. Content includes substance use norms, developing individual goals, enhancing motivation, coping with substance use urges, creating a supportive social network, and aspects of being autistic that may contribute to substance misuse, such as interoception difficulties, sensory sensitivity, alexithymia, social anxiety, and burnout. ADAPT centers accessibility by telling attendees what to expect, co-creating group norms for clear social expectations, and employing a variety of opportunities for participation e.g., verbal participation, chat participation, polls, take-home worksheets, smaller break-out rooms, and group brainstorming on a google document.