What are Adverse Childhood Experiences?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that occur during childhood and have a tremendous impact on future lifelong health and opportunity. As the number of ACEs increases for a person, so does the risk of poor health outcomes and risk behaviors.
Abuse
Neglect
Household Dysfunction
The presence of ACEs does not mean that a child will experience poor outcomes.
A child’s positive experiences and protective factors will help protect
our kids as they grow.
ACEs and Substance Abuse/Misuse:
Experiencing trauma can lead people to substance misuse as a way to deal with depression, anxiety and hopelessness. The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study tells us that a person with 6 ACEs is 46 times more likely to develop a heroin-related substance use disorder than a person with no ACEs. Locally, we are experiencing very high numbers of drug overdose deaths. In 2017, two residents died per day from a drug overdoses. In 2018, our emergency rooms were treating up to 13 patients a day for drug-related injuries.
Content source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention
Cuyahoga County ACEs Project:
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) is working in partnership on a project to help address and prevent ACEs and substance misuse/abuse.
The Cuyahoga County Opiate Task Force (CCOTF) is a county coalition that was established in 2010. With CCBH serving as the lead agency, the CCOTF has developed surveillance, prevention and evaluation strategies supporting greater public awareness of the opioid epidemic. CCOTF now is comprised of over 250 concerned citizens and dedicated professionals from partner agencies specializing in drug treatment/recovery, education, health care, law enforcement, medicine, prevention, mental health services, and public health.
The task force holds open bi-monthly meetings at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
Please see the Family Resource Guide for more information about resources available for families impacted by opioid addiction.
For more information
CCBH ACEs Project:
Becky Karns, MPH
Data Analyst
216-201-2001 ext. 1607
Cuyahoga County Opiate Task Force:
April R. Vince MSSA, LSW
Program Manager, Drug Overdose Prevention
216-201-2001 ext. 1538
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