Patricia Martin Giraldino
Florida National University
7/302024
Adverse Childhood Experiences: An Ounce of Prevention
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include different types of abuse, disregard, and household dysfunction that have a strong, long-term effect on health and well-being. Having explored ACEs about redlining laws and a summary of community-specific risk-related behaviors, the three most prevalent adolescent risky behaviors come into focus: substance abuse, truancy, and early sexual activity. These behaviors are aggravated by certain historical and systemic inequities, such as redlining, which permits minimal access to decent housing, education, and job opportunities, thereby fostering circles of inadequacy.
Risk-Related Behaviors Among Adolescents In The Community And Antecedent Factors Manifested In Adulthood
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is one of the major risk behaviors among adolescents in our community. It is often used as a coping behavior to deal with their level of stress and trauma. According to research, youth with high ACEs are significantly more likely to have substance abuse (Carolina Villamil Grest, Cederbaum, Jungeun Olivia Lee, & Unger, 2021). This behavior in adolescence can lead to addiction, mental health disorders, and chronic diseases in adulthood. It may further diminish social and economic potential, eventually leading to socioeconomic instability and perpetuating ACEs through generational cycles.
Truancy
Truancy, or being chronically absent from school, is another risk-related behavior common among adolescents in marginalized communities. Instability and lack of support in the family and children not feeling safe at school are two key contributing factors to this behavior. In fact, according to research by the U.S. Department of Education, truant students can likely face issues of dropping out, which in turn causes them unemployment, poverty, and jail in their future lives (Mireles-Rios, Rios, & Reyes, 2020). Truancy has antecedent factors that extend to school failure, social and emotional development problems, and even increased involvement in criminal activities later in adulthood.
Early Sexual Activity
Early initiation of sex is common in adolescents who experience ACEs and who live in disadvantaged communities. This has been attributed to a mix of factors, which help explain the limited ability to access comprehensive sexual education and healthcare services, coupled with the normalization of this behavior that occurs as the result of high ACEs within environments. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy recognizes that too often, for many teens, early sexual activity brings about unintended pregnancies and STIs, as well as emotional distress (Song & Qian, 2020). These consequences will limit future possibilities in schools and labor markets. These conditions will also foster an increased dependence on social services and drive health inequity throughout a lifetime.
Effects of Redlining Laws and Policies
Redlining has historically segregated communities, concentrating poverty and limiting access to essential services such as healthcare, quality education, and safe recreational spaces. In turn, these conditions increase the risk of engaging in risk-related behaviors. In this regard, ACEs become systemically embedded through the redlining policies, making it quite hard to move beyond cycles of disadvantage.
The root causes of substance abuse, truancy, and early sexuality in adolescents need to be fully addressed through reforming policy, community-based intervention strategies, and increasing access to supportive services. This includes mental health preventive strategies at the level of resources, structures of educational opportunity, and safe community environments. Such an approach allows for understanding and mitigating antecedent factors associated with these behaviors to promote healthier and more stable futures for people and communities.
