ACEs are adverse childhood experiences which are potentially traumatic events we can be exposed to as children growing up. The first ACE study was conducted from 1995 to 1997 by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kaiser Permanente healthcare company.

In the study 17,000 adults were asked about their childhood experiences including emotional, physical and sexual abuse; neglect and household challenges like parental separation, substance abuse, incarceration, violence and mental illness. Almost two-thirds of participants had at least one ACE and 20 percent noted 3 or more experiences. Researchers have found a link between more numerous ACE exposure and higher likelihood of risky behaviors, poor health and behavioral outcomes and premature death. ACEs can follow an intergenerational pattern where a person that experienced physical abuse as a child would be more likely to commit violent, including abusing or neglecting their own children, and being revictimized in the future.

ACEs are linked with increased risk for chronic diseases and behavioral challenges to include obesity, depression and alcoholism. The greater the number of ACEs experienced the greater risk of negative outcomes like performing poorly in school, being unemployed and develop high-risk behaviors such as smoking and drug use.

Though these challenges exist today prevention specialists work to increase resilience to help people create strengths and protective factors like stable relationships and strong family bonds to prevent violence and improve mental and behavioral health.