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- Title
Adverse childhood experiences and early initiation of substance use: A survival analysis.
- Authors
Meadows, Amy L; Strickland, Justin C; Hyder, S Maela; Basconi, Rita C; Stull, Margaret E; Wagner, Frances P; Nguyen, Mai N; Rayapati, Abner O; Rush, Craig R
- Abstract
Objective: Early adversity, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), is a risk factor for the development of substance use disorder (SUD). ACEs are associated with earlier initiation of substance use. This study examined the relationship between ACEs and age of initiation of substance use using survival analysis. It is hypothesized that individuals with higher ACEs will have an earlier age of initiation. Method: Participants were recruited from the University of Kentucky's Laboratory for Human Behavioral Pharmacology. Participants were 18 years or older, English speaking, and actively engaged in substance use. Participants were not in substance abuse treatment nor were they seeking treatment. ACE scores were calculated, and age of substance use initiation was recorded. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine the effect of ACE score on age of substance use initiation. Results: A total of 107 participants completed the study. An average number of 2.3 ACEs (SD = 2.2) were endorsed with 24% of participants reporting 4 or more ACEs. Higher ACE scores were associated with cigarette smoking and non-medical prescription opioid use onset (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.14, 95% CI=1.02–1.28, p = 0.02, and HR=1.19, 95% CI = 1.04–1.37, p = 0.01, respectively. Conclusions: A significant association was found between higher ACE scores and earlier initiation of cigarette and non-medical prescription opioid use, consistent with prior research. Primary prevention of ACEs, screening for ACEs during childhood, and interventions for ACEs if detected, may help to reduce the risk of substance use/SUD in adulthood.
- Subjects
KENTUCKY; SUBSTANCE abuse risk factors; ADVERSE childhood experiences; NARCOTICS; CONFIDENCE intervals; RISK assessment; AGE factors in disease; SURVIVAL analysis (Biometry); DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding; SMOKING; PROPORTIONAL hazards models
- Publication
International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2024, Vol 59, Issue 2, p218
- ISSN
0091-2174
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/00912174231195751