After I retired in 2013, I was stunned when I first learned about Adverse Childhood Events, known as ACEs, and their lifelong negative impact on individuals, families, and society…
Know Your ACE PLACE
In card games, getting an Ace is always a good thing. But, the story for ACEs, Adverse Childhood Experiences, is different. ACE refers to childhood experiences of mental, physical, or sexual abuse; neglect; addiction or violence in the home; or, divorce or separation. Research has clearly shown that ACEs translate into higher rates of adult physical and mental illness, as well as behavioral difficulties in life.
What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?
Working as a physician for the underserved and homeless in our nations’s capital was an eye-opener for me. I saw patients with multiple health problems. Why so many diseases? Lifestyle choices, stress, and poverty? Yes, but there was something else, something big, which I only came to understand later.