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32 Alaska Just. F. 1 (2015-2016)

handle is hein.journals/aljufor32 and id is 1 raw text is: 














Spring 2015                               UNIVERSITY of ALASKA ANCHORAGE                                      Vol. 32, No.  1


       Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Association

                         with Alcohol Abuse by Alaska Adults


Marny  Rivera and Patrick Sidmore
   Alaska  has a costly substance  abuse
problem.  The  prevalence of alcohol con-
sumption  in Alaska is high (Figure 1), part
of a problem costing Alaskans an estimated
$1.2 billion annually in lost productivity and
expenditures associated with traffic crashes,
criminal justice and protective services,
health care, and public assistance and social
services, according to a 2012 report by the
McDowell   Group. In Alaska there are also
elevated rates of the following Adverse
Childhood   Experiences  (ACEs)   (Table
1)-childhood abuse (verbal/emotional,
physical, and sexual) and other forms  of
household  dysfunction (mental  illness or
substance abuse in the home, separation or
divorce, witnessing domestic violence, and
having an incarcerated family member)-all
of which  impact  individuals, communi-
ties, and the economy. One  indication of
the long-term effect of ACEs can be  seen
in a recent nationwide study by the Perry-


Category and ACE type
Abuse


1. Verbal/emotional abuse
       2. Physical abuse
         3. Sexual abuse


man  Group   which
estimated that each     Figure 1. Alcohol Use in Alaska and the U.S., 2001-2013
first-time incident      100%
of child  abuse  in
2014   would  cost
$1.8  million dol-     g
lars over a lifetime.  '           Current drinkers                Aska
The  personal  and     c  60%
economic   impacts  
are substantial.       0  40
   In this article we
examine   the rela-    W                                            Alaska
tionship  between         20% -Binge dri krs
abuse  and  house-               Heavy drinkers                             Alaska
hold dysfunction in-                                   -
childhood  and  the          2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
increased likelihood                                  Year
of problem  alcohol            Source of data: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
drinking by Alaska                Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS)
adults. The behav-
ioral health of Alaskans could be improved tablishing an integrated prevention system.
by addressing the associationbetweenACEs
and health-risk drinking behaviors, and es-               Please see A CEs, page  16


Table 1. Adverse Childhood   Experiences (ACEs) Types and  Questions
Question asked in Alaska


Did a parent or adult in your home ever svear at you, insult you, or put you down?
Did a parent or adult in your home ever hit, beat, kick, or physically hurt you in anyway? (Do not include spanking)
Did anyone at least 5 years older than You, or an adult, ever touch you sexually?
Did anyone at least 5 years older than you or an adult, try to make you touch them sexually?
Did anyone atleast 5 years older than you, or an adult, force you to have sex?


Neglect
            4. Physical neglect [question not asked in Alaska survey]
            5. Emotional neglect [question not asked in Alaska survey]
Household dysfunction


   6. Mental illness in the home
 7. Substance abuse in the home

8. Witnessing domestic violence
9.  Incaicerated family member
      10. Separation or divorce


Did you live with anyone who was depressed, mentally ill, or suicidal?
Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic?
Did you live with anyonewho used illegal street drugs or who abused prescription medications?
Did your parents or adults in your home ever slap, hit, kick, punch, or beat each other up?
Did you live with anyone who served time or was sentenced to serve time in prison, jail, or other correctional facilit?
Were your parents separated or divorced?
               Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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