According to the National Library of Medicine, individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (IDD) are an expanding population that confront multiple disadvantages from social and environmental determinants of health. Community integration has in many ways improved the lives of people with IDD but has also increased their access to alcohol and drugs, with the potential for developing Substance Use Disorders.
There is an increasing number of people with IDD who are becoming addicted to alcohol and other substances. Due to cognitive disabilities and other factors, some members of this population are not prepared to fully comprehend the harmful effects of such substances on their emotional and physical health, the addictive properties of these substances, or the legal and social consequences of their use.
Substance Use Disorder often causes behavior that is disruptive to families and the community and may result in unwelcome confrontations with law enforcement personnel. When arrested and sentenced to jail or ordered to receive treatment in traditional Substance Use Disorder programs, persons with IDD often receive either no treatment or treatment inappropriate to their level of functioning.
There is a lack of needed screening and formal assessment for Substance Use Disorder for the IDD population.
As a result, a return to substance use with all of its devastating consequences is likely upon re-entry into the community. Substance Use Disorder often goes unrecognized in the IDD population.
It is the Position of TheArc New York that:
- Education on the nature and effects of the use of alcohol, legal and illegal drugs should be required to be presented to persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in keeping with their cognitive and developmental level of understanding.
- Education should include the targeted strategies to help individuals with IDD to recognize and manage risks associated with environments and individuals likely to involve them in Substance Use Disorder behaviors.
- Professionals and direct support personnel working with people with IDD should be trained to recognize the behavior associated with Substance Use Disorder and to address the problem with evidence-based strategies specific to this population.
- Where appropriate, treatment, including the provision of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) (e.g., Suboxone and Vivitrol), should be made available to individuals with IDD commensurate with the general population who experience Substance Use Disorder. The level of cognitive function should never be a basis for denying treatment for Substance Use Disorders.
- If traditional programs are used, treatment should be in collaboration with providers who are experienced and skilled in working with people with IDD. Treatment should also afford the person with opportunities to engage in peer mentoring programs commensurate with their developmental capacity. Specialized Substance Use Disorder treatment programs may need to be developed to treat people with IDD.
- Parents, Guardians and significant others should be involved in the treatment process, including appropriate support programs such as Al-Anon (a support group for families of people with chemical dependencies) and various drug rehabilitation programs.
- Research adapted to the IDD population is needed to inform prevention and provide appropriate treatment intervention.
