Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) can last a lifetime, but they don't have to. Early exposure to family violence, abusive treatment, neglect, alcohol and drug abuse, or separated/divorced parents can lead to health and social problems, risk-taking behaviors and a shortened lifespan. Safe, stable and nurturing relationships and communities can break the cycle of abuse and maltreatment.
What is an ACE?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) are stressful or traumatic experiences that take place in a child’s life prior to age 18. ACE are strongly related to development and prevalence of a wide range of health problems, including substance abuse, throughout the lifespan.
Examples of ACE:
Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
An alcohol and/or drug abuser in the household
An incarcerated household member
Someone who is chronically depressed, mentally ill,institutionalized, or suicidal
Mother is treated violently
One or no parents
Emotional or physical neglect
ACE place a child at-risk
When children are exposed to chronic stressful events, neurodevelopment can be disrupted. Disruption in early development of the nervous system may impede a child’s ability to cope with negative or disruptive emotions and contribute to emotional and cognitive impairment. Over time, and often during adolescence, the children who experience ACE often adopt negative coping mechanisms, such as substance use. Eventually, this contributes to disease, disability and social problems, as well as premature mortality.
ACE and Other Behavioral Health Problems:
Increased risk of suicide attempts by men and women
Lifetime depressive episodes
Sleep disturbances in adults
Sexual risk behaviors
Teen pregnancy.
ACE and Substance Use
Early initiation of alcohol use
Problem drinking behavior into adulthood
Increased likelihood of early smoking during adulthood
Prescription drug use
Increased risk of lifetime illicit drug use, ever having a drug problem, and self-reported addiction
What can you do?
Resilience is the result of a dynamic set of interactions between a person’s adverse experiences and his or her protective factors. These protective factors can include a person’s own biological and developmental characteristics but protective factors can also include characteristics of the family, community, and systems that mitigate the negative impacts of ACE. The negative consequences of toxic stress from ACE can be buffered with the support of caring, competent adults and appropriate intervention and support. As a professional, supporting and encouraging resiliency can help.
How does resilience develop?
There are multiple pathways to resilience but some important individual, family and community conditions that support resilience are known. Protective factors, particularly safe, stable, and nurturing relationships can often mitigate the consequences of ACE. Here is a list of those factors:
Close relationships with competent caregivers and other caring adults
Parent resilience
Caregiver knowledge and application of positive parenting skills
Identifying and cultivating a sense of purpose (faith, culture, identity)
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) can last a lifetime, but they don't have to. Early exposure to family violence, abusive treatment, neglect, alcohol and drug abuse, or separated/divorced parents can lead to health and social problems, risk-taking behaviors and a shortened lifespan. Safe, stable and nurturing relationships and communities can break the cycle of abuse and maltreatment.
What is an ACE?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) are stressful or traumatic experiences that take place in a child’s life prior to age 18. ACE are strongly related to development and prevalence of a wide range of health problems, including substance abuse, throughout the lifespan.
Examples of ACE:
ACE place a child at-risk
When children are exposed to chronic stressful events, neurodevelopment can be disrupted. Disruption in early development of the nervous system may impede a child’s ability to cope with negative or disruptive emotions and contribute to emotional and cognitive impairment. Over time, and often during adolescence, the children who experience ACE often adopt negative coping mechanisms, such as substance use. Eventually, this contributes to disease, disability and social problems, as well as premature mortality.
ACE and Other Behavioral Health Problems:
ACE and Substance Use
What can you do?
Resilience is the result of a dynamic set of interactions between a person’s adverse experiences and his or her protective factors. These protective factors can include a person’s own biological and developmental characteristics but protective factors can also include characteristics of the family, community, and systems that mitigate the negative impacts of ACE. The negative consequences of toxic stress from ACE can be buffered with the support of caring, competent adults and appropriate intervention and support. As a professional, supporting and encouraging resiliency can help.
How does resilience develop?
There are multiple pathways to resilience but some important individual, family and community conditions that support resilience are known. Protective factors, particularly safe, stable, and nurturing relationships can often mitigate the consequences of ACE. Here is a list of those factors:
Suspect child abuse? Make a report or learn more through the free ND Mandated Reporter interactive training.