Lepus, I agree with you that there is way too much "drug-pushing" on people who are perceived to be different. Nevertheless, as Bonnie points out, that is generally not the case with Asperger syndrome. Nor is it the case with autism: there is no universally effective drug treatment for either one. The treatment for both autism and Asperger's, which are two of the conditions now known as "autistic spectrum disorders", focuses more on helping these children and adults to develop the kind of socialization skills that the rest of us -- even most of the nerds -- understand and use without thinking much about them. If you have Asperger's syndrome, you may have to be taught what do do when, for example, someone approaches you with a smiling face and an outstretched hand, and says hello--since his or her smile does not give you the normal feeling of pleasure and reassurance. (Yes, I know, depending on the context -- a used car lot, for example -- it might not be reassuring to me either. But you get the idea!)

When I was a medical student and a pediatric resident in the 70's, I was taught: "If a child makes eye contact with you, that means he's not autistic." Now we know that autism is a complex disorder that varies in severity, that it probably has to do with a problem in the way the brain and its connections were put together during the embryonic period, some of which may be related to genetics, and that many people with autism spectrum disorders can be helped to function better within their families, their classrooms, and the world, if they are recognized and treated (again, NOT with drugs) early on...preferably before age 4. This is not about trying to make people conform; it's about helping to ameliorate a serious condition which can in some instances be almost totally disabling.

For many families of children with Asperger's syndrome, making the diagnosis can bring significant relief: most of them have known for a long time that there was something different about their child, and now they know what it is, know that there are other people who have it, and know that there are ways to improve the child's chances of having a productive life.

For more information, including links to fascinating articles by the remarkable Temple Grandin, check out the webpage of The Autism Society of America.

By the way, there is still controversy about whether Asperger's Disorder is the same thing as "high-functioning autism," or something different. Most experts are in the "something different" camp, but there are lots of opinions out there.

Aloha,
Mark