Source: Oliver Ragfelt/Unsplash Parents sometimes wonder whether giving their child medication for mental health sends the message that a pill solves problems—and might encourage young people to experiment with drugs. On the other hand, if the medication is effective, even only in part, it might make someone less likely to self-medicate with illegal drugs in search of relief. A new study out this week provides a little bit of evidence that psychiatric medication can discourage substance use in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers used to think that people on the autism spectrum were less likely to abuse drugs, including alcohol. But they were focused on people who were severely disabled. In the larger population of people on the autism spectrum, substance abuse is actually a higher risk than among the population without ASD. In the new study, of nearly 33,000 people in Taiwan—including nearly 7,000 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder … [Read more...] about People with ASD May Be More Likely to Use Drugs