Interoception and Autism: A Hidden Link to Substance Use?

Autism and substance use is an area that received little discussion in wider society. In my own experience, their is an assumption that Autistic people are less likely to use drugs, however growing bodies of research are beginning to show what I have said for many year; substance use is a relevant discussion with regards to Autistic culture. Research has even suggested that Autistic people are nine times more likely to report self-medicating with recreational drugs (Weir et al, 2021). One of the overlooked aspects of this is the impact of differences in our interoception.

What is interoception and why is it relevant to autism?

Interoception is the sensory system that allows us to feel what is happening in our body. It tells us when we are hungry, or our heart is pounding, it even tells us what emotion we're feeling based on internal sensations. This awareness of the signals within your body allows you to know how you're feeling and how safe a situation feels (Mahler, n.d.).