<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

I seem to recall a post recently on regarding a link between alcoholism and 
celiac/gluten intolerance.  While this doesn't mention gluten intolerance 
directly, it does mention that there may be a subset with Asperberger's autism, 
which is often treated with gluten-free and casein-free diets. It comes from the 
Autism Society of Wisconsin  on the web at [log in to unmask]    

Bev in Milwaukee

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.asw4autism.org/Madison/mar01.htm#One 
by Donna Rosinski, President of the Madison Area Chapter "Are some families 
at risk for both autism and alcoholism?" This story caught my eye awhile ago 
while I was reading the Autism Research Review International, the newsletter of 
the Autism Research Institute. Geneticist Judith Miles screened a sample of 
119 autistic individuals, and found that one third had a significant family 
history of alcoholism. The researchers suggested that these families may carry 
genes that predispose to both autism and alcoholism.

The book Shadow Syndromes, by John Ratey and Catherine Johnston, discusses 
the fact that a certain genetic repeat called the "D2R2 allele" was commonly 
found in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's Syndrome, and 
addictive disorders. Since some individuals with ASD also have OCD or 
Tourette's, it makes sense that some might also suffer from addictive disorders such 
as alcoholism, although I don't have personal knowledge of many. I remember 
reading somewhere, although I can't remember where it was, that a small subset 
of alcoholics are actually individuals with Asperger's Syndrome who have 
attempted to self-medicate by drinking. 

If an individual with autism does have a drinking problem, where can he get 
help? Recently a parent phone call tipped me off to the fact that the Madison 
area chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous has a special needs committee. I spoke to 
a wonderful man whose name I can't tell you ( AA is very strict about 
confidentiality), who is very committed to meeting the needs of people with 
developmental disabilities. Alcoholics who have disabilities are welcome to attend any 
meeting, and there are many meetings in the Madison area, some of which are 
non-smoking meetings. If there is a problem with transportation, call the Madison 
AA at (608) 222-8989 and ask for the special needs committee, and they will 
help to arrange transportation. If the individual with autism has an attendant 
who must be with him, then he should attend an "open" meeting - open to 
non-alcoholics, that is. There will soon be special "clubhouse" meetings for people 
with developmental disabilities. And if the person with autism can't tolerate 
being at a meeting at all, one-on-one sessions can be arranged that are very 
individualized. 

It is good to know that AA is accommodating the needs of individuals with 
autism who have drinking problems. All that is required to attend AA meetings, I 
was told, is the desire to stop drinking. 



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