Transcript The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study

Adverse Childhood
Experiences:
The Hidden Crisis in Our
Community
Understanding Stress
Positive
Stress
Tolerable
Stress
Toxic
Stress
ACEs are:

Surprisingly common

Occur in clusters

The basis for many common public health
problems

Strong predictors of later social functioning,
well-being, health risks, disease, and death
“The impact of ACEs can now only be ignored as a
matter of conscious choice. With this information
comes the responsibility to use it.”
Anda and Brown, CDC
ACE Scores
1/3
of adults have an
ACE score of 0
The
majority of adults
with an ACE score of 0
have few, if any, risk
factors for diseases that
are common causes of
death in the US.
Top 10 risk factors for death
in the USA










Smoking
Severe Obesity
Physical Inactivity
Depression
Suicide Attempt
Alcoholism
Illicit Drug Use
Injected Drug Use
50+ Sexual Partners
History Of STD
Life-long Physical, Mental & Behavioral
Health Outcomes Linked to ACEs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alcohol, tobacco & other drug addiction
Auto-immune disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease & ischemic heart disease
Depression, anxiety & other mental illness
Diabetes
Multiple divorces
Fetal death
High risk sexual activity, STDs & unintended pregnancy
Intimate partner violence—perpetration & victimization
Liver disease
Lung cancer
Obesity
Self-regulation & anger management problems
Skeletal fractures
Suicide attempts
Work problems—including absenteeism, productivity & on-the-job injury
Family Centered Practice, June 8, 2007
ACE Score
vs. Smoking as an Adult
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
1
2
3
ACE Score
4-5
6 or more
ACE Score
vs. Adult Alcoholism
18
16
% Alcoholic
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
1
2
ACE Score
3
>=4
% With a Lifetime History of
Depression
ACE Score vs.
Chronic Depression
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Women
Men
0
1
2
ACE Score
3
>=4
How Do We Meet the
Challenge?
 Gather more data
 Raise awareness of ACEs, especially with pediatricians
and other healthcare professionals
 Support research to identify evidence-based
interventions for toxic stress
 Provide trauma-informed trainings
 Improve access to health care services
 Embed Protective Factors in practices of organizations
and throughout the community
The truth about childhood is stored up in
our bodies and lives in our souls. Our
intellect can be tricked, our feelings can
be numbed and manipulated, our
perception shamed and confused, our
bodies tricked with medication, but our
soul never forgets. And because we are
one, one whole soul, in one body,
someday our body will present its bill.
~ Alice Miller
Information & Resources

ACE Study findings and information
- www.acestudy.org or www.cdc.gov

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child at Harvard
University
- www.developingchild.net

Academy of Pediatrics
- www.brightfutures.aap.org
More Information & Resources

National Center for Trauma-Informed Care –
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/nctic

National Child Traumatic Stress Network –
www.nctsnet.org

Center for the Study of Social Policy Information on Strengthening Families and
Protective Factors – www.cssp.org

Center for Injury Prevention and Control –
www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention