Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a group of potentially traumatic events that occur before age 18. They include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, as well as growing up in environments where there is substance abuse, mental illness, or domestic violence. Numerous studies indicate that unless properly addressed and treated, ACEs have a lasting impact on physical and mental health—and are contributing risk factors to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD).
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences
In the 1990s, a landmark study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente highlighted the significant correlation between early life adversity and later health issues.
The study initially identified 10 categories of adverse experiences that were measured in participants’ childhoods:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Physical neglect
- Emotional neglect
- Witnessing mother treated violently
- Household substance abuse
- Household mental illness
- Parental separation or divorce
- Incarcerated household member
These experiences were quantified through a score, with each type of adverse experience earning one point. Higher ACE scores were associated with more severe health outcomes later in life. Although these categories are now widely used to assess ACEs, the research has expanded to recognize that other forms of adversity, including discrimination, bullying, and societal upheaval, may also have detrimental effects on health.
The original study by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente surveyed over 17,000 participants, primarily adults seeking routine health care. Researchers asked about the 10 specific categories of childhood adversity, and the data were then analyzed to identify correlations with later health conditions. The results indicated that as the number of ACEs increased, there’s a greater buildup of “toxic stress”, a catalyst to many negative health outcomes, including heart disease, diabetes, mental health disorders, and substance use problems.
The CDC also indicates that “ACEs are common. About 64% of adults in the United States reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18. Nearly one in six (17.3%) adults reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs.”
The Connection Between ACEs and Substance Use
There are several reasons why adverse childhood experiences contribute to the development of SUD and AUD.
- Coping with emotional pain. Many individuals who experience ACEs face overwhelming emotional distress, leading them to self-medicate with substances. Drugs or alcohol may temporarily numb the emotional pain caused by trauma, which can develop into addiction over time.
- Alterations in brain function. ACEs disrupt brain development, particularly areas responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and reward processing. This makes people more vulnerable to addiction as they may have difficulty managing emotions and cravings.
- Increased risk-taking behaviors. Children exposed to adversity are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors, including substance use. Early exposure to substances or a chaotic environment increases the likelihood of developing AUD or SUD later in life.
- Intergenerational cycle. ACEs contribute to the cycle of trauma and addiction. Children raised in homes with substance abuse may be more likely to develop addiction themselves due to learned behaviors and genetic predisposition.
- Mental health disorders. ACEs are strongly linked to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which heightens the risk of substance use as people attempt to cope with their mental health struggles through alcohol or drugs.
Moving Beyond ACEs
ACEs Aware states there are many helpful clinical approaches for adults to learn about and then effectively manage this early trauma. First, take this helpful questionnaire. Based on the results, you’ll likely benefit from:
- Working with trauma-informed care providers.
- Using strategies that the agency indicates “help regulate the stress response, including:
- Supportive relationships, including with caregivers (for children), other family members, and peers
- High-quality, sufficient sleep
- Balanced nutrition
- Regular physical activity
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Experiencing nature
- Mental health care, including psychotherapy or psychiatric care, and substance use disorder treatment, when indicated.”
- Create methods that help validate existing strengths and protective factors.
ACEs Too High suggests that a qualified health care practitioner should be able to provide you with additional resources for emotional and mental care while addressing some of your other medical issues.
Lifestyle approaches you can try include:
- Yoga
- Mindful meditation
- Journaling
- Alternative therapies such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), biofeedback, electroencephalographic (EEG) neurofeedback, and brainspotting
Find Hope and Healing at Northern Path
Addressing the impact of childhood adversity allows you to develop healthier coping mechanisms, improve emotional regulation, and reduce the likelihood of turning to substances as a way of managing pain.
At Northern Path Recovery Center in Fort Wayne, IN, we can help. By offering compassionate, trauma-informed care and acknowledging the history of ACEs, our board-certified medical professionals offer comprehensive, individualized treatment for you or your loved one and encourage progressive healing. Our services include evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing to address the underlying, interconnected causes of substance use and mental health issues. Talk to a member of our admissions team today to learn more.
