Expenditures significantly higher when medical complexity and autism overlap versus either one alone
Most associations, including thinner prefrontal cortex and greater whole brain volume, precede substance use initiation
Increase of 0.13 standard deviations seen in overall liability to mental illness assuming published lead-psychopathology links are causal
Associations appear to be stronger for White teens versus Black or Asian teens
Warnings for youth resulted in marked increases in psychotropic drug poisonings and suicide deaths
Highest rates seen during COVID-19 pandemic versus before pandemic and in females, those aged 14 to 17 and 18 to 22 years
No increased rates of positive M-CHAT-R screening seen for offspring
Although uncommon, contraindicated drug pairs have been prescribed
Minor improvements seen in externalizing problems, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Findings highlight importance of addressing neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions in this population