ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorder

BY HEATHER DEROSE

Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex neurodevelopment disorder characterized by a diverse range of conditions, including challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. These symptoms affect a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 59 children in the United States are affected by the disorder and more than 70 million people worldwide. ASD occurrence among boys is four times more than girls and occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Children with autism typically express indicators by age 2 or 3. There’s a wide range of factors that may influence the development of the disorder: gastrointestinal disorders, seizures, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and attention issues. There is no defined standard medical approach to treat the condition, and growing research and anecdotal evidence suggest cannabis may help, which has parents interested in trying cannabis therapy for their children.

Among the parents seeing positive results with cannabis use and their children is Adam Meredith. Adam is the father of Adyson and AJ who live in Missouri. Adyson was diagnosed with ADS when she was 3 years old. In his own words, Adam has, “Personally been a long-time consumer of cannabis and have incorporated it into my protocol as a professional MMA fighter, so I already knew first hand of its potential benefits.” He first started adding hemp foods into his daughter’s diet when she was 5 and added full spectrum CBD when she was 7 years old. “I began incorporating cannabis foods into her diet at first in the form of hemp seeds.” He also added CBD to her food and started giving her the drops directly. In addition, the family provided early childhood education for her speech and language development as well as social skills. “It’s hard to pinpoint any one thing because we take a very holistic approach to health by incorporating many healthy behaviors, but since implementing cannabis products into Adyson’s regular routine, we have certainly seen improvements with her rest and mood. I often give CBD to Adyson before bed because it aids in giving her a restful night sleep which is essential to everyone’s health.” Adam also says, “I highly recommend parents of all children—on and off of the spectrum—to incorporate cannabis products, whether that’s hemp seeds or CBD drops; everyone can benefit.”

Several states allow the use of cannabis for those with autism. After years of talking with legislatures, Colorado has added Autism Spectrum Disorder to the list qualifying conditions. The study “Real Life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism; Analysis of Safety and Efficacy” followed 188 ASD patients over six months, 156 of the patients were under the age of 18. There’s more to learn about cannabis treatment in children, but the study concludes, “Cannabis as a treatment for autism spectrum disorders patients appears to be well-tolerated, safe and seemingly effective option to relieve symptoms, mainly: seizures, tics, depression, restlessness and rage attacks.”

Another study led by Dr. Adi Aran, director of the pediatric neurology unit in Jerusalem, found cannabis treatment with high concentrated CBD improved the condition for 80% of the children. The study consisted of 60 children whose condition was not improved with conventional therapies. Both children on the spectrum and parents are finding natural symptom relief for their families. With more research and anecdotal evidence, more and more families are treating symptoms with cannabis.

Among those providing education and community for autism is Autism Speaks. The organization hosted its first scientific leadership conference on cannabis and autism late last year in New York City. The conference focused on research into the safety and potential benefits of cannabis therapies for autism and its associated medical conditions. Other members of the community shared their personal experiences, hoping to further research. Families interested can support ongoing autism and cannabis studies with Autism Speaks. There are other organizations like the Realm of Caring in Colorado that work with hospitals, doctors, and researchers to stay at the forefront of cannabis science and offer education to the general public and healthcare practitioners.

There are only a few FDA-approved medications for managing ADS symptoms. These approved drugs are only prescribed for irritability in autism and do not address other symptoms of the condition. They also come with the horrifying black box warnings indicating death as a possible side effect. These possibly fatal side-effect warnings have many parents electing cannabis therapy for their children and seeing improvements. As cannabis becomes legal across the globe, research is confirming it as a helpful, natural alternative to improve patients’ quality of life without the risks of medications typically prescribed in traditional treatment plans.