Abstract
Most adolescents experience stress, but the challenges of adolescence can be particularly stressful for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Substance use among youth with ASD may be more common than previously thought and the risk may be highest among individuals with ASD without intellectual disability (sometimes called "high-functioning autism"). Individuals with ASD and substance use present unique social and adaptive-skill deficits and cognitive and communication abilities that could impact the success of traditional substance use treatment. Additional, specific interventions during substance use treatment may be necessary to target possible social and nonsocial cognitive deficits and improve outcomes. Individual therapies rather than traditional group therapies, in a highly structured versus an open-ended program, combined with computer-based technologies, may be more beneficial. These interventions may be required as a prerequisite or in a parallel, concomitant manner to facilitate a successful outcome. Clearly further research is needed to develop evidence-based therapeutic modalities effective for this population. © 2020 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.