Local program tackles substance use disorder treatment for patients with autism

NINA MOINI: Those who have faced it well-- substance use disorder does not discriminate. But addiction treatment can look different for everyone. That's why Fraser, a Minnesota-based autism services program, has launched a new substance use disorder treatment program specifically for Minnesotans who are on the autism spectrum.

To get a better picture of how their services look different from a traditional addiction treatment program, Aric Jensen is on the line. He's the vice president of the outpatient and community-based mental health program at Fraser. Thanks so much for your time this afternoon, Aric.

ARIC JENSEN: Thanks. It's great to be here.

NINA MOINI: I understand that research shows people on the autism spectrum may struggle with substance use disorder at higher rates than the general population. From your vantage point as a psychologist and with your background, why might that be?

ARIC JENSEN: Yeah. There's definitely a misconception that the prevalence rate is lower. But as you said, the research has shown that it's actually equivalent or higher. And I think some of the reasons for that may be that individuals with autism may use substances to help in social situations, cope with social isolation, loneliness. Those type of things might lead to that higher prevalence rate in individuals on the autism spectrum.

NINA MOINI: I think there's always really a need for more addiction treatment programs and more resources. Can you tell us a little bit, though, about how some of the more traditional approaches to treatment programs may not have been meeting the needs of people with autism and just how it's different?

ARIC JENSEN: Yeah. I think there's great treatment programs in the community. So definitely don't want to disparage the great work going on. But oftentimes substance use is provided both in a group setting and individually. And sometimes in the group setting if you have quite a variety of individuals in there, it can be harder to customize those group approaches and even individualized approaches to the unique needs of individuals on the autism spectrum.

And that's why we're really excited to have our program in place, where we tailor our interventions both to the individual, but also to the group to make it as inviting and as comfortable as possible to engage in the services and benefit and get the support that they need.

NINA MOINI: Tell me more about just kind of inpatient, outpatient, what are the differences there for anyone who doesn't? And how are the treatments different in those settings?

ARIC JENSEN: So at Fraser, we offer intensive outpatient treatment. So on the outpatient and individuals come from their home or their community. They're with us throughout the week, oftentimes multiple groups throughout the week and individual counseling sessions. And then they go home or back to the community and incorporate that treatment into their day-to-day lives.

In inpatient setting, the traditional, that month-long program they're in a hospital or some other kind of locked treatment center. They're getting the care throughout the day. And then when they meet their goals, they leave and go back to the community or in the home. And there's real benefits to both approaches. Oftentimes somebody might start off inpatient and then as they discharge, might engage in a service like Fraser offers more of the intensive outpatient program to support their ongoing recovery journey.

NINA MOINI: What is your sense, Aric, for how big of a need there is for a program like this? Because I understand it's still getting off the ground, pretty new, around 40 people have participated. What's your sense for the need that exists?

ARIC JENSEN: I think the need's really great. And part of the privilege of being on your show is just to spread the word that we're here and we're wanting to help. I think also maybe with the misconception that the prevalence rate's potentially lower with individuals with autism. I think just making sure that we're doing a great job of screening and asking those questions and identifying the need. So I really think there's a huge need for this service and this tailored approach for individuals on the autism spectrum.

NINA MOINI: If someone's listening or has a loved one maybe on the autism spectrum also struggling right now, how can they approach their first steps in trying to get help, either for oneself or for a loved one?

ARIC JENSEN: Yeah. I think for oneself, it's great to research. If they're interested in reaching out to Fraser, they can call our main intake line to get started and ask questions. If it's a family member, it's always good in a sensitive way to just express your concerns and also offer hope that there are people out there in the community that are willing and wanting to help and it doesn't need to be a scary thing. There are people out there that will meet people where they're at, walk alongside them, and help guide them to get the help they need and live the most successful life they can.

NINA MOINI: Do you foresee the program growing? Is there like a wait list? What do you think?

ARIC JENSEN: Right now, there's actually not a wait list. There's immediate openings, which we're really excited about because when know when people need help, they need it today and it's really hard to wait. I think as we grow and get the word out, we're really open and wanting to grow our program to have great access to meet people who have that need as they're identified, and to create really good access to our program.

NINA MOINI: Is it also different in the way that you assess very individual-by-individual cases, because I think sometimes people have the misconception that autism is the same for everyone when there's literally the spectrum?

ARIC JENSEN: Absolutely, yeah. I think we always say if you know one person with autism, you know one person with autism. So each individual is so unique. So we really start off with a thorough assessment, looking both at mental health needs, as well as substance use needs. And then from there develop a real customized treatment plan for the individual because we know everybody's so very different. And what their needs are and what our approach is, what our strategies, what our techniques are going to look like are going to vary from person to person.

NINA MOINI: While I have you here, Aric, it's the 90th year of Fraser, celebrating 90 years of serving Minnesotans with autism and just so many services that you all do. What are you working on next, or what is your hope for growing even more within Fraser?

ARIC JENSEN: I think throughout our 90 years, we've really been embedded in our real vision and is to meet the needs of the community. So we always have an ear out in the community finding out what those needs are. That's how this program got started. We knew there was a need. And so I think just kind of keeping our ears open and figuring out what our needs are, that's really going to support our growth moving forward.

And we've recently become a certified community behavioral health clinic, which has really opened the door for us to add a lot of unique services that help us even get outside of our four walls of our clinics, in the community, in schools, to really try to meet people where they're at. So I think we're excited to use that to grow and really make a profound impact on people's lives.

NINA MOINI: Lots of good work happening. Aric, thanks so much for your time.

ARIC JENSEN: Yeah, thank you, Nina.

NINA MOINI: That was Aric Jensen, the vice president of outpatient and community-based mental health program at Fraser.