Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership

Sinclair, J., Aslan, B., Agabio, R., Anilkumar, A., Brosnan, M., Day, E., Dowling, N. A., Flood, C., Grant, J. E., Halliday, R., Hofvander, B., Howes, L., Moseley, R., Myers, B., O’Connor, V., Shaya, G., Thomas, S., Robinson, J., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2023). Identifying the most important research, policy and practice questions for substance use, problematic alcohol use and behavioural addictions in autism (SABA-A): A priority setting partnership. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 124, 152393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152393

Publication date: 15 May 2023 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
19
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 19 (5.3%)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Autistic people are more likely to report problematic alcohol and other substance use when compared to the general population. Evidence suggests that up to one in three autistic adults may have an alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), although the evidence base for behavioural addictions is less clear. Autistic people may use substances or engage in potentially addictive behaviours as a means of coping with social anxiety, challenging life problems, or camouflaging in social contexts. Despite the prevalence and detrimental effects of AUD, SUD and behavioural addictions in community samples, literature focusing on the intersection between autism and these conditions is scarce, hindering health policy, research, and clinical practice. METHODS: We aimed to identify the top 10 priorities to build the evidence for research, policy, and clinical practice at this intersection. A priority-setting partnership was used to address this aim, comprising an international steering committee and stakeholders from various backgrounds, including people with declared lived experience of autism and/or addiction. First, an online survey was used to identify what people considered key questions about Substance use, alcohol use, or behavioural addictions in autistic people (SABA-A). These initial questions were reviewed and amended by stakeholders, and then classified and refined to form the final list of top priorities via an online consensus process. OUTCOMES: The top ten priorities were identified: three research, three policy, and four practice questions. Future research suggestions are discussed.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
59
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
1 / 59 (1.7%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
4 / 308 (1.3%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 4 / 63 (6.3%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 4 / 291 (1.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
63 / 308 (20.5%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 55 / 291 (18.9%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
59 / 63 (93.7%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 59 / 308 (19.2%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 51 / 55 (92.7%).
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