Effects of multiple adverse childhood experiences on substance use in young adults: A review of the literature

Christopher J Rogers; Sheila Pakdaman; Myriam Forster; Steve Sussman; Timothy J Grigsby; Jazmine Victoria; Jennifer B Unger

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109407

Effects of multiple adverse childhood experiences on substance use in young adults: A review of the literature

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 May 1:234:109407. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109407. Epub 2022 Mar 15.

Authors

Christopher J Rogers¹, Sheila Pakdaman², Myriam Forster³, Steve Sussman², Timothy J Grigsby⁴, Jazmine Victoria³, Jennifer B Unger²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Population and Public Health Science, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: rogerscj@usc.edu.
² Department of Population and Public Health Science, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Department of Health Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.

PMID: 35306395
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109407

Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE), including maltreatment and household dysfunction, are consistent predictors of health compromising behaviors in adulthood. While most ACE studies have focused on adults, there is an emerging body of research focusing on young adulthood.

Methods: This review describes research focused on the relationship between ACE and substance use among young adults. Two databases were searched for studies published from 1998 to 2021 that assess the relationship between ACE and substance use among young adults. Of the 1474 articles identified in the search, 43 met the inclusion criteria.

Results: Consensus across reviewed studies is that the relationship between ACE and substance use demonstrated in the general adult population is evident in young adults, although effects varied by demographic variables such as gender and ethnic background.

Conclusions: The need for standardized measures across studies, racial/ethnic considerations, and the importance of building trauma informed prevention programs targeting this age group are discussed.

Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences; Alcohol; Drugs; Review; Substance use; Tobacco; Young adulthood.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Adverse Childhood Experiences*
Ethnicity
Health Behavior
Humans
Racial Groups
Substance-Related Disorders* / epidemiology
Young Adult