Sex, Drugs and Asperger's Syndrome Asd ─ A User Guide to Adulthood

Jackson presents this sequel to his Asperger's guide to adolescence, addressing topics that can be challenging for all young adults but especially those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A foreword highlights the particular hazards of drugs, alcohol, sex and relationships for a teenager with ASD, and the introduction lays the groundwork of social differences and sensory hyper- and hypo-sensitivities common to ASDs. He jumps in by outlining common and less common pitfalls of adolescence including forms of peer pressure, garden variety stress, and comorbid mental health issues such as his own experience of bipolar mood disorder and the common comorbidities of unipolar depression and anxiety, which often present differently for people with ASD. He discusses how to cope with school and work, how to respond to bullying in various contexts, and things to keep in mind for safety and enjoyment when going out for social engagements, e.g. clubs. The chapter on drugs essentially serves as a harm reduction guide for the substances most likely to be offered in party settings, with special note of how a person with ASD might react differently than a neurotypical person. The end of the book discusses relationships and maturity, beginning with sex and the boundaries and communication around it, and then broadening out to a general exploration of how we develop interests and opinions, share them with friends, and limit sharing to appropriate audiences. Annotation ©2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Luke Jackson is 26 years old and has Asperger Syndrome. He is the best-selling author of Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome, also published by JKP.