The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Alcohol and Marijuana Consumption in High School Students
Start Date
April 2025
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
This study examines the correlation between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and substance use, specifically alcohol and marijuana consumption, among high school students. Using national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBSS), ACEs were categorized into three types: physical violence, sexual violence, and environmental instability, and their relationships to substance use were analyzed. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between higher ACE scores and increased likelihood of marijuana and alcohol use. Students who displayed at least one ACE were more likely to engage in substance use, suggesting that these traumatic experiences contribute to risk behaviors such as coping mechanisms for trauma. The study underscores the importance of early intervention of ACEs in adolescence to mitigate their impact on risky behaviors. Despite the limitations such as the high rate of non-responses and potential biases in self-reported data, the findings align with existing literature and highlight the critical need for public health intervention. By leveraging accessible datasets like YRBSS, policymakers and educators can design and implement targeted prevention and treatment strategies to support vulnerable youth populations. This research contributes to the growing amount of evidence linking childhood trauma to adolescent substance use, emphasizing a need for comprehensive, trauma-informed approaches to youth well-being.
The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Alcohol and Marijuana Consumption in High School Students
2nd floor - Library
This study examines the correlation between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and substance use, specifically alcohol and marijuana consumption, among high school students. Using national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBSS), ACEs were categorized into three types: physical violence, sexual violence, and environmental instability, and their relationships to substance use were analyzed. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between higher ACE scores and increased likelihood of marijuana and alcohol use. Students who displayed at least one ACE were more likely to engage in substance use, suggesting that these traumatic experiences contribute to risk behaviors such as coping mechanisms for trauma. The study underscores the importance of early intervention of ACEs in adolescence to mitigate their impact on risky behaviors. Despite the limitations such as the high rate of non-responses and potential biases in self-reported data, the findings align with existing literature and highlight the critical need for public health intervention. By leveraging accessible datasets like YRBSS, policymakers and educators can design and implement targeted prevention and treatment strategies to support vulnerable youth populations. This research contributes to the growing amount of evidence linking childhood trauma to adolescent substance use, emphasizing a need for comprehensive, trauma-informed approaches to youth well-being.
