Latest news with #AmericanAcademyofChild&AdolescentPsychiatry
Mint
15-06-2025
- Health
- Mint
Marijuana to treat Autism? Some parents say yes
Marijuana is becoming easier to get in many states, and one group showing interest might surprise you: parents of children with autism. In online and support groups, families swap tips and share experiences—even though the science is still inconclusive. Most doctors don't prescribe cannabis and usually advise against it. But the few who do say demand is rising. Dr. Mohsin Maqbool, a pediatric neurologist in Plano, Texas, says about a third of his patients are children with autism and about 40% of them treated with cannabis. He prescribes a combination of THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, and CBD, another part of the cannabis plant that doesn't produce a high and can counteract some of the impact of THC. While medical marijuana is prescribed for everything from cancer symptoms to epilepsy to chronic pain and even dementia, its use in children with autism is more controversial. After all, we know regular use of THC in adolescents can negatively impact their developing brains and lead to a higher risk of mental-health problems. But recreational and medical use of marijuana are quite different. These patients aren't getting high—their families and doctors are intentionally avoiding that by strictly regulating and individualizing the dose. And the parents of children with autism are often desperate to try something to help treat their children for a neurodevelopmental condition that has no definitive cause. They say cannabis is no more risky than the other medications they've tried unsuccessfully, often with many side effects. A controversial approach Take Marlo Jeffrey, a nurse practitioner who lives outside Dallas. She says she has tried countless medications for her son, Jaiden Gaut. He is an 11-year-old who was diagnosed with ADHD and high-functioning autism when he was 5. His symptoms include anger and aggression, sometimes escalating to self-harm and violence. Jeffrey took her son to see Dr. Maqbool last fall. Jaiden started THC/CBD gummies, escalated his dose over a month, until he got up to 7.5 milligrams of THC and CBD each a day. 'His behavior improved a lot during that time," says Jeffrey. Jaiden was able to stop taking another medication that had caused him to gain a lot of weight. His physical aggression and cursing improved. He stopped using repetitive words as much and his thinking became more flexible. Since then, he has transitioned to a mainstream school and his grades have gone up. But anecdotal success doesn't equate to scientific validation. Many doctors aren't yet convinced cannabis is a safe and effective treatment. Groups like the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry warn against treating autistic children with cannabis. The Autism Science Foundation says parents should be 'very cautious about giving THC to their children" and more research needs to be done on CBD. Some researchers and doctors say CBD shows promising signs as a treatment for autism but are wary of THC. Most CBD consists of trace amounts of THC. Dr. Doris Trauner, neuroscience professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, says she has had patients whose CBD from dispensaries had higher-than-expected concentrations of THC, and they ended up experiencing worse behavior. 'Children became aggressive, some almost psychotic," she says. 'That's not across the board, of course. But I do think that a lot of physicians would be concerned about using high amounts of THC." Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, chief medical officer of Dent Neurologic Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., says higher doses of CBD need to be studied and have potential in treating autistic patients. But cost can also be a barrier, as insurance won't cover the treatments. CBD showed promise in a subset of boys with severe autism whose repetitive and self-injurious behaviors improved after taking it for eight weeks, according to a May study Trauner authored. She says more studies need to be conducted. Treating symptoms Other doctors say cannabis—both CBD and THC and other components of the cannabis plant—are filling a niche. 'This plant can help these kids," says Dr. Bonni Goldstein, a Los Angeles-based pediatrician who has treated autistic children with cannabis since 2013. She says cannabis is treating one of the underlying causes of autism: endocannabinoid system dysfunction. Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring molecules in the body similar to THC and CBD. The body's endocannabinoid system helps regulate numerous physiological processes. Studies dating back to 2013 have shown that children with autism have alterations in their endocannabinoid system, Goldstein says. She speculates that such alterations may be contributing to the symptoms seen in some patients. She treats patients as young as toddlers to adults in their 30s. The dose of cannabis is highly individual, Goldstein says. Maqbool, who is also a professor at the University of Texas, Dallas, said in his patient population about 60% of 80 autistic patients—ranging from 3 to 17 years old—who took a combination of THC/CBD reported improvements in sleep and other symptoms. Maqbool starts patients on very low doses of THC in combination with CBD and gradually increases the dose if they don't respond. About 20% of children don't respond, he says. Whatever works For some patients, a very low dose will suffice. Michael Zere, a respiratory therapist in Wylie, Texas, started bringing his 9-year-old son Ezkiel to see Dr. Maqbool earlier this year. Ezkiel was diagnosed with autism when he was 3. He is largely nonverbal and struggles with socialization and especially sleep. The parents tried giving Ezkiel melatonin to help him sleep. They paid $4,000 for magnetic resonance treatment, which also didn't work. So when Michael brought his son to see Maqbool for an evaluation earlier this year and he suggested trying cannabis, he didn't think twice. 'I had to try whatever works…," he says. 'And this thing helped tremendously. He is now sleeping seven hours a day. His behavior is much better. He's behaving at school. He's not scratching. He's not head banging. He's doing great." Ezkiel takes a very low dose of THC/CBD twice a day. Asked if he was hesitant about giving his son marijuana, Michael says no. 'I was exhausted," he says. 'I wanted to try anything that could help my son sleep and manage his behavior. This is the only thing that worked; it's a miracle." Write to Sumathi Reddy at
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trans youth health care choices are for families, not government to decide
When Michigan parents need to make a medical decision for their child, they know whose input they want: their child's doctor and health care team, their family and friends and other trusted people in their lives who they know will put their child's well-being first. But as a family medicine doctor, I've never seen a parent wonder what their state legislator thinks. They frequently wonder what the best research shows, or ask about the established guidelines of reputable medical organizations, but they don't ask their house representative if they should breastfeed, nor their senator if they should have a C-section. Parents have always been entrusted with having conversations with medical professionals, weighing the evidence, and making the best decisions for their children. Why, then, are Republicans in Lansing trying to take away parents' ability to decide what medical care is right for their children? Why are they pushing harmful legislation (House Bills 4466-4468) that would criminalize pediatricians for following the recommendations of every major medical association in the United States, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists? Because transgender children have become the new political scapegoat, and legislators who do not know them, their stories, their families, their dreams, or anything about their medical care do not trust parents to make thoughtful, informed decisions on what's best for their future. Parents considering what type of care their child needs deserve the right to talk individually with trained experts; to have their questions answered privately; to engage with a full care team of physicians, psychologists, and social workers; to receive detailed, specific information that applies to their child and their needs, free from bias and government interference. Kids and their families need our support, not our government's targeted legislative attack. The truth is, most of these parents already know intimately what the research has proven time and again: Medical care for transgender young people is life-saving care. These vulnerable children are more likely to be bullied, threatened and attempt suicide than their peers. Providing essential medical care ensures access to social, medical and psychological support while navigating the complexities of adolescence and leads to improved emotional health outcomes. Those who claim to sincerely question this health care are also in favor of banning further research – a convenient solution, and not one genuinely invested in people's well-being. Transgender young people are already on the frontline of so many fights for which they did not ask. We cannot allow the government to ban essential medical care and criminalize healthcare providers who have dedicated their lives to helping all children – not just the ones who fit a certain mold. Attempts to ban medical care makes these children more depressed, anxious and vulnerable. This legislation will only make kids less safe. You don't need to know everything about transgender people or transgender health care to know that it's wrong for the government to interfere with parents and doctors making personal health care decisions that follow all major medical guidelines, and it's wrong for Republican legislators to bully a small group of children who make up less than 1% of the population and use them as political pawns to distract us from real issues facing Michiganders. You only need to know that parents need the freedom to make decisions for their children's health care in the privacy of their doctor's office, without having the harmful rhetoric of extremist politicians forced upon them. That's the kind of protection transgender young people really need right now. Dr. Lauren Snyder is a board-certified family medicine physician in Michigan. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trans youth and their families need no government meddling | Opinion
