New experimental drug for autism creating divisions

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So what age would you who oppose this have those who take this drug be? I'm just curious. It's been established that social isolation and peer abuse and bullying have long-lasting, damaging effects on a child's mental and physical health, with higher risk of cardiovascular problems, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. If these medications could literally improve the kid's health and prevent him/her from taking a ton of psych meds in the future, and from f*****g up his/her brain on illegal substances, and you want to withhold the medication from that kid, how is that not a potential human rights violation?

Many of us suffer severe anxiety/depression as kids as the result of social isolation, and had child psychiatrists going on a wild goose chase of giving us various meds to treat various faulty diagnoses, when we really needed better social adjustment (and in my case, OCD treatment). This medication seems more humanistic, because it'll be attacking the root of the problem for depressed kids on the spectrum, aka social isolation and limited social skills. Given how psych meds work, these kids' Autism will not be "erased", they will not "become neurotypical"...just as those with ADD/ADHD don't on their meds. There is still room for disability accommodation and environmental discussion. But, as the researcher pointed out, many Autistic adults want this medication. And if you're an adult who spent 18+ years or so bullied, isolated, humiliated, and abused, and suddenly get told, "we had medication that could help you with social skills during the crucial period of your childhood and adolescent development, but your allies at the Neurodiversity movement put a stop to that :^)" might you not be somewhat upset?

Yes, psychiatric medication testing in children, and the laissez faire attitudes child psychiatrists (particularly in the US have) to meds and dxes is a serious problem. Actual behavioral problems that can lead to poorer outcomes and mental/physical illness if treated too late is also a serious problem. You have to weigh the pros and cons, because life isn't fair like that.

Irrespective of whether it has potential to help or not , if I was a parent I'd want proof it was safe to take (compared to placebo) before agreeing to my child taking it .

I mean... that is what child trials are for. Frequently, when there are not sufficient pediatric trials for any given drug, psychiatrists will just prescribe them to kids, extrapolating the safety of these drugs from studies done in adults. Given that ASD is still considered a childhood diagnosis that is preferably recognized at a young age (usually 2-4, probably hence the age given for the trials) fact of the matter is that kids this young will probably take the meds anyways.

If I had a kid, I might consider giving them medication to help them socialize. I know the impact of prolonged bullying and isolation. It would break my heart to see my child go through what I went through. The only way we'll know if it's safe is if it's tested in kids. I mean, it's not an easy moral situation. But there it is.

For early experimental drug trails start with adults then after proven success with a decent amount of people start working your way down in age with lower dosing at first then what worked with adults.

I don't know about the USA , but in the UK there's still a tendency for schools to play down the amount of bullying there is . It's all about side-lining anything that might worsen the reputation of the school .

Yes, and I grew up in the 2000-2010s era. Targeting bullying =/= instant social integration. One, you can't stop kids from doing it. If kids want to be nasty, they'll be more subtle. Frequently, getting adults involved will make it worse. Two, even if social exclusion is not "bullying" per se, kids who cannot connect with other kids will at best be treated with toleration and cordial behavior, not true friendship. Real friendship and social connection is not something that you can force kids into. Even if it works in some instances, it's not a perfect solution. Clearly, lots of different countries and societies are interested in this drug. Each society will have different communities with different approaches to socializing their kids. In the US, we'll also have different communities with different approaches, plus different individual families and different kids potentially taking the medication. There's a whole lot of room for error in the idea that we can just target bullying, intervene, and hitch the kid up with some lifelong friends when we're discussing that much variability. That's why the option should be open for some kids who'll respond well to it.

Your point about simultaneous trials in adults and children is valid. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath, though, when it comes to this medication. This drug is being tested internationally, including in countries with more rigorous laws regarding pharmaceuticals than ours. This may all end up being a wasted conversation, if the drug turns out ineffective (as many ASD interventions turn out to be...) But if not, I think it's good that we have more options open for helping people on the spectrum. It's better than more powerful drugs we might be prescribed for problems secondary to social isolation, that's for sure.

It was the same way for me growing up in the 1960s-1970s----just what you've described.

This drug could have a bigger impact than i first thought - in young aspie children.

If it manages to change the neural connections via learned behaviour it could theoretically change their diagnosis to the point that they dont score high enough for ASD.

Of course im referring to v hf aspies with minimal other symptoms with no ID

It's hard to believe that parents would put their child forward for this. I wonder is there a financial incentive or other perks that make it an acceptable option.
Animal therapy would be the option I would choose for my child if, I was a parent, that and hippotherapy.

Bullying would happen regardless of social abilities, the communication and repetitive behaviours alone would make a person stand out significantly as different.

You dont even have to stand out as different to experience significant bullying.

Unless of course they mask the communication and repetitive behaviours and from a functioning perspective the long term outcomes of masking have detrimental impact on independent adult living.

What these researchers don't realize is that social skills are learned. The drug only makes socializing more rewarding to autistic people, but it does nothing to actually help them socialize better with others. You would have to learn that elsewhere.