'Clear Link' Between Childhood Trauma and Substance Abuse, Addiction Doctor Says [johnsoncitypress.com]

By Jonathan Roberts, Johnson City Press, September 2, 2019

Almost half of all American children have experienced at least some form of childhood trauma.

Many of these adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, can be tied back to drug and substance abuse, but their impact may be more widespread than many perceive.

In Tennessee, an estimated 49% of children have at least one adverse childhood experience, and 24.1% have at least two. Nationally, those numbers sit at 45% and 20.5%, respectively. Children with ACEs, such as neglect, physical and sexual abuse and family dysfunction, are more likely to suffer from a wide range of health disorders, both physical and mental — including substance abuse.

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