Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), overdose and suicide are urgent, related and preventable public health challenges that have consequences for all of us.
These issues are preventable.
Scroll down to learn how we can address today’s crises while preventing tomorrow’s.
While these challenges impact all of us, some communities are more affected than others.
Listen to an expert’s perspective:
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. ACEs can include experiencing neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, and having a family member attempt or die by suicide. Children of different races and ethnicities do not experience ACEs equally.
Drug overdose is the poisoning that happens when a drug is taken in excessive amounts. An overdose can be fatal or nonfatal, and all overdoses come with their own emotional and economic toll. Overdose deaths impact some communities more than others.
Dying by suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States. Suicidal thoughts and attempts are also on the rise. Suicide rates vary by population.
We need a coordinated approach to address the interrelated crises of exposure to ACEs, overdose, and suicide to:
Percentage of adults reporting experiencing 1 or more
ACE:
Asian - 50.2%
White - 62.9%
Hispanic or Latino - 65.1%
NH/ OPI - 66.7%
Black - 70.1%
AI/ AN - 74.6%
Multiracial - 77.1%
ACEs affect some racial/ethnic groups more than others.
64% of adults have experienced at least one ACE.
1 in 6 adults have experienced four or more types of ACEs.
ACEs are related to at least 7 of the leading causes of death.
ACEs can negatively impact development.
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Behavioral
ACEs can also have lasting effects on health, well-being, and prosperity far into adulthood.
More than
1 million
people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose.
Opioids were involved in over
Opioids were involved in over 76% of drug overdose deaths in 2022.
of overdose deaths in 2022.
In 2022
107,941
drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States.
Drug overdoses occurred in 2022.
Overdose deaths involving opioids, including prescription opioids, heroin and synthetic opioids (like fentanyl), have increased about eight times since 2002.
See text-only version (page 4, column 1)
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.
Exposure to . . .
another person’s suicide
a family history of suicide
substance use disorder
suicidal ideation
are risk factors that increase the possibility of suicide.
By creating policies based on the understanding that childhood trauma is a risk factor for suicide and overdose, we can protect children today and prevent future risks.