The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Addiction

According to ACEs research two-thirds of the population have experienced at least adverse childhood experience which can double or quadruple the likelihood of using drugs or alcohol, especially at a young age.  Having an ACE score of 4 or more increases the odds of becoming an alcoholic by 700%. People with an ACE score of 5 or more are 7 to 10 times more likely to using illicit drugs and become addicted.

Addiction: “ritualized compulsive comfort-seeking behaviors” are adopted when children experience trauma and are not provided with buffering interventions including healthy alternatives to healing.

This training will provide insight into the original ACE Study which intended to present “findings only as they relate to the problem of addiction, using nicotine, alcohol, and injected illicit drugs as examples of substances that are commonly viewed as ‘addicting’” as well as exploring ways to intervene and interrupt addiction behaviors.

Objectives:

• Identify and understand the initial role of the ACE Study as it relates to addiction and long-term health.

• Define the types and components of addiction.

• Give examples of current addiction rates.

• Analyze the impact of parental addiction on children.

• Develop tools and strategies to support those impacted by addiction.